Football elections in Kenya

On 18 March 1963 John Kasyoka was elected in an Annual General Meeting to head Kenyan football. The then Nairobi Deputy mayor made history as he was the first native to take charge of Kenya football. He was elected back after a year, on 17 March 1964, to become the first FA boss in post independent Kenya. He was re-elected back for a third term on 30 March 1965. With no elections in the next two years, he stayed on as boss till 13 Dec 1968 when the FA of Kenya was dissolved by the then Minister of Co-operatives Ronald Ngala stating the FA had "completely ignored their responsibilities and involving themselves in petty quarrels emanating from personal clashes".[2]

Martin Shikuku was next elected in Jan 1970 but less than ten months later was hounded out of office by Masinde Muliro, Minister for Co-operatives & Social services. Martin 'Bill' Martin was elected next, unopposed, but stepped down after a year in office following his promotion as Provincial Commissioner (PC) to North Eastern Province. It was Williams Ngaah turn in June 1973 following his election but only till January of 1974 after being kicked out by Masinde Muliro.

Kenneth Matiba[3] was elected to office in Aug 1974 under a new entity Kenya Football Federation (KFF) ending the era of Kenya Football Association (KFA). He became the first chair to complete a full four-year term. He did not seek re-election when the next elections were called in Nov 1978 paving way for his rival Dan Owino to assume office. Owino didn't last long as Robert Matano, Minister for Housing and Social Services, disbanded the federation allowing Bill Martin to return as an appointed chair of an Adhoc Committee, then John Kasyoka on recommendation of the Kenya National Sports Council (KNSC).

Clement Gachanja (Jan 1982) then Job Omino (Oct 1985) were elected to office but had interrupted terms due to government interference. Omino[4] was to however return in Sep 1991 for a full second term that ended in Feb 1996. Peter Kenneth (Feb 1996-Mar 2000), Maina Kariuki (Mar 2000-Mar 2004) were the next in office. The latter though had a one week interruption in May 2002 to his time in office after the then Minister of Sports Francis Nyenze appointed a caretaker committee headed by Philip Kisia.[5] It was overruled by the High Court.

Alfred Sambu, who lost to Kariuki in 2000 then assumed office in 29 Dec 2004[6] only to be ousted by coup led by Mohammed Hatimy in Aug 2005. Hatimy was to be elected in Nov 2008 under a new umbrella, Football Kenya Ltd, and after a full term gave way to Sam Nyamweya in Oct 2011[7][8] under Football Kenya Federation.

On 10 February 2016, Nick Mwendwa, then 37 years old, was confirmed as the Federation boss[9] beating his closest challenger Ambrose Rachier 50 to 27 votes[10]at Kasarani Annex to become the 14th elected football boss in independent Kenya. That election, the 18th in the last 55 years, was organized by the Electoral Board and conducted by the Institute of Education in Democracy (IED).

Sam Nyamweya failed to defend his seat after he stepped down minutes to the polls.[11][12] Nyamweya, together with three other aspirants; former Kenya Breweries and National team midfielder Sammy Sholei, Re-union Chair Evans Gor Semelang'o, and former AFC Leopards Chair Ssemi Aina, all polled zero votes.

Mwendwa successfully defended his seat in the next elections [13] in the next election held on 17 October 2020 after polling 77 of the possible 85 votes.[14]

In the advent of four year terms from the early 70s, Mwendwa became only the first Kenyan football chief to be re-elected back to office[15] after a full uninterrupted term. Though Job Omino achieved a re-election in 1991, his first term in office, after being elected on 12 Oct 1985, was marred by a government dissolution of the federation on 3 March 1989. He later reclaimed his seat following an election ordered by the former Kenya President Daniel arap Moi on 7 September 1991. He went on to complete a full term.

The following is a list of the Kenya football chiefs over time, elected or appointed.

• Kenyapage/ List of Kenya Football Chairmen since 1963
• AfriCOG/foul play! The crisis of football management in Kenya
• The Elephant/Football Kenya Federation Presidency: Poisoned Chalice or Poor Management?