Nick Mwendwa is the new Football Kenya Federation president, following a landslide win in yesterday’s elections held at the Safaricom Indoor Arena, Kasarani, Nairobi.
Mwendwa garnered 50 votes to beat his closest challenger, Kenyan Premier League and Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, who registered 27 of the 77 votes cast.
Incumbent Sam Nyamweya had withdrawn from the race just moments before the exercise, but his name was on the ballot paper, where he got zero votes alongside Sammy Aina, Gor Semelang'o and Sammy Sholei.
Mwendwa’s rise to the helm of the association brought an end to Nyamweya’s controversy-dogged career, both locally and regionally.
Nyamweya is currently being investigated on allegations of misappropriation of funds meant for Harambee Stars’ unsuccessful World Cup campaign away trip to Cape Verde late last year.
For over two decades, Nyamweya served as the then KFF secretary general and Cecafa secretary general, before rising to the FKF presidency in October 2011.
In his acceptance speech, Mwendwa pledged to accomplish the promises he made under his Team Change Campaign drive.
“We are going to sit down with the Kenyan Premier League to discuss 'some issues', among them the league composition,” he said.
"I am for an 18-team league, but that is something we need to discuss and agree on within the next few days.”
Rachier, who was making his second attempt, applauded the electoral board for a job well done in delivering free and fair elections.
“The board has done a great job on the day, but there was a lot that happened on the eve of the elections,” he said.
“A lot of money changed hands on the eve of the elections, with some delegates being handed more than Sh150, 000 each.”
He went on: “However, we welcome Nick and promise to work hand-in-hand with him in changing our football. The first undertaking should be to register as stipulated in the Sports Act 2013 as quickly as possible.”
Nyamweya also applauded Mwendwa, saying, “He is the right person to lead our football. I have done my part. He is a young man I know very well. I have worked with him before at the Federation (when he was the TMS manager)”.
“I will offer him my full support and will ensure we hand over the office smoothly.”
Principal Secretary Richard Ekai said the elections herald a new dawn for Kenyan football, but denied claims they had prevailed upon Nyamweya to step down.
“It was there for everyone to see, including Nyamweya, that we need change in our football. We have been having discussions behind the scenes to ensure that we have a free and fair election and we are glad it has happened,” said Ekai.