By Michael Kimani
The date is 11 the 11th month 2021 a press statement reached media houses confirming the selection of a caretaker committee. 11 is a unique number in football showing completeness and ultimate team work. Football stakeholders had the hope that the committee would have the precision and the swiftness of the legendary Man United number 11 Ryan Giggs. Weeks turned into months hope turned into despair, the long wait seemed like eternity. Five months later the committee is in halter skeeter looking for anyone to blame except themselves. A committee comprising of 15 senior officials with utmost experience and a secretariat of 12 renown journalists have failed to liven the Kenyan hope, the hope of a better Kenya a football power house. The committee has failed in four main areas;
Lack of public participation
Public participation is one of the core pillars of the Kenyan constitution 2010. The Kenyan people believed in the need to inculcate this major pillar in the governance of the people. All public institutions are expected to live in this billing. Sadly the committee let the football stakeholders down big time. The public was astonished of a sports body working from the boardroom. Boardroom meetings matured into directives that never really addressed issues facing the beautiful game. In a letter dated 14th December 2021 the caretaker committee issued a letter titled “RE: FOOTBALL ACTIVITIES AT THE GRASSROOTS” adressed to sports editors. In the letter the following statement appeared “3. The Committee will shortly embark on grass root tours across the country to engage clubs and football stakeholders with a view to streamlining all football activities at the grass root level.” four months later from this injection meant to bring hope, the injection no longer works and pain is at an all time high. The grassroot tours have never taken place and camouflaged into clubs’ meetings which were all but directives issuance with no meaningful stakeholder’s engagement. The long-awaited constitutional review has taken far too long with reports claiming the process is nearing completion but if I may ask where is the public participation?
Lack of transparency and accountability
Nick Mwendwa led FKF as clarified in the Inspection report was disbanded due to lack of transparency and accountability. Ironically the body that replaced it is back to the old ways: the committee in too much secrecy. The channels of communication are inaccessible, the common Wafula the footballer at the grassroot is unable to get information from the body. Information is power the committee has lost power and the people on the ground can no longer feel the impact. My “bird” tells me that the members hold three meeting a day of which only one public communication has come out of it in over a month. It is sad to see this happen. This is believed to be a scheme aimed at swindling resources and racking allowances as they plan to leave office on the 15th of may this year. A leaked budget that is believed to be from the committee which quoted a figure of Ksh 875,100,500 is worrying seeing that nothing substantive has been done.
Failure to pay match officials
Players, team management and match officials are the most fundamental in the running of the beautiful game. The payment of match officials is key to ensure that the game move well and attain the right standard as expected. The delayed payment of match officials will more often compromise the integrity of the sport. Ali Amour the committee leagues and competition chair confirmed that the match officials haven’t been paid since January. This statement were made while appearing at a local tv station on Monday 11th April 2022. In contrast the former regime honoured their pledges in a week while it “right” replacement has failed to do so in its 4th months running. My bird tells me the payment is due June, July when the new officials assume office. Why do we complain of poor officiating?
Planned takeover
Ali Amour on a news interview with one of the local dallies confirmed that they intend to appoint a new body to run football in the country. The following questions soon did arise. Why does the caretake committee find the mandate to appoint new officials? Will stakeholders’ input be put in consideration upon the appointment of the new officials? With the caretaker committee having failed to deliver is there any hope that their “appointee” will deliver? Will the process be a competitive process? All this lie in a mystery, only time that will tell. The lack of transparency, accountability and stakeholders’ participation in their operation is only ripening the already existing suspicion.
Conclusively, much needs to be done to boost the public confidence in the FKF caretaker committee that is operating in darkness. The planned takeover by a new body ought to be halted until there is enough light on the process and stakeholders’ involvement
Michael Kimani
The Author is a Sports Consultant can be reached through Kmichael690@gmail.com
Alex Njeru