By Michael Kimani
Football Kenya federation (FKF) branches and county football Association (CFA) have locked heads for quite sometime now and in what seems to be un ending war. With both parties claiming legitimacy of running football at the county level. CFAs claim their legitimacy from the government through registration while FKF branches claim that by virtue of them being affiliates of the main body FKF at the counties they derive their authority from FKF an affiliate of FIFA. In over 25 counties there are two parallel leagues CFA land FKF leagues, this has left he common footballers at the grassroot in the dark now.
History
The history of CFA is one that is unique in its own regard. The origin of the CFA can be traced to the FKF November 2019 elections that was disputed. The National body through its constitution and electoral code failed to recognize Sub branches (county officials) as their members and therefore ineligible to vote in the elections. The sub branches also accused the national office of having ghost clubs in a scheme aimed at removing from office officials that were not aligned by the then president Nick Mwendwa. This resulted in the nullification of the FKF elections twice by the sports tribunal. The exact date for the birth of the CFAas was in the 29th of February 2020 at a national football convention held at the Panari Hotel, Nairobi where sub branch officials decided to abide with the Sports Act 2013
Sports Act 2013 the pivot of controversy
From 29th February 2020 CFAs embarked on a massive exercise aimed at compliance with the sports Act. In Summary the Sports Act 2013 an Achilo Oyako master piece emphasized on the registration of all sports organization under the office of the Sports Registrar. As of April 2022 over 40 County Football Association were registered under the office of the sports Registrar with another 300 football clubs seeking registration with the same office. The sports Act is also blamed by FKF for interfering with its operation. It should be noted that the CS Amina invoked section 54 of the act to invoke an inspection and appoint a caretaker committee that replaced FKF officials that were removed from office.
CFA vs FKF
With CFA receiving certificates from the office of the sports registrar they claimed ownership and bragging rights to running of football at the counties. With FKF branches still in office there was evident friction. In 2020 FKF CEO Barry Otieno issued a letter advice all stakeholders to abstain from any contact with the now splinter County Football Association’s’. Various county football Associations received “CEASE AND DESIST ” letters from the federation with stern warning from using FKF logo and emblems and from identifying themselves as FKF officials. The above sanctions were followed by the expulsion of pro CFAs clubs in FKF leagues. In protest to this County Football Associations started their own leagues of members who were compliant with the sports Act. As provided for in the sports Act various CFAs conducted elections observed by the Sports Registrar and other government officials as stipulated in the sports regulations 2016. As of April 2022 ten counties had conducted elections and results furnished and accepted by the sports registrar
The caretaker committee
The coming of the caretaker committee further complicated the arithmetic. The FKF caretaker Committee as its fully recognized threw the whole matter into the public eye. The infighting in the caretaker was evident there emerged factions pro CFA and pro FKF it became evidently impossible for the progress of the caretaker. Bridging this gap is now impossible with the caretaker committee in office. With the term of the counties ending in the 15th of May no light beyond the tunnel in ending this matter. The war can only get worse with the interim body leaving office
Tomorrow we shall look at the possible solution to bridge this war of titans that is derailing our beautiful game
Michael Kimani
The Author is a Sports Consultant can be reached through Kmichael690@gmail.com