Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Kisii County chairman Jezreel Mbegera has promised to elevate the sport in the region after retaining his seat during the elections exercise held on Thursday.
Mbegera garnered 17 votes against Yobes Mokua’s 13 to triumph. Speaking after being re-elected, Mbegera laid down his plans to Africa Top Sports. “I had placed Kisii County teams in all the seven tiers of FKF leagues including the Premier League, National Super League, Division One, Division two, regional, County and Sub-County and I want to assure the delegates I will do more than this in my second term,” Mbegera told Africa Top Sports.
He continued: “My other focus will be to train more referees than last term when we managed only 80, we want to increase the number while increasing trained coaches from 60. I will also make sure that we promote referees to the highest top tier leagues in the county. I will improve on the above areas among others in our new term.”
Meanwhile, the FKF County level elections were successfully held and concluded on Thursday, November 14, 2024, in most counties across the country with a wide majority pointing at a victory for team blue that is headed by the duo of current FKF president Nick Mwendwa and deputy Doris Petra.
According to results that had been returned at the end of the exercise in various counties, chairmen elected in 29 counties are allied to Team Blue which has a national presidential ticket of Doris Petra as the president and Mwendwa as running mate.
Team fresh, which is allied to extreme sports CEO Hussein Mohammed has so far garnered 14 counties giving team blue a near an sailable lead in the run up to the national elections. Grey counties recorded were three as Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula also managed to have one county vote in his preferred candidate.
The important battle ground branches of Nairobi were shared between Petra/Mwendwa and Hussein as Dickson Doyo won the Nairobi East branch chairmanship while Hussain’s candidate won in Nairobi West.
Additionally, four of the six counties where chairmen were un opposed are aligned to the Petra-Mwendwa axis.
Among the counties where Team Blue candidates carried the day include Nairobi East with Doyo at the helm, Swaleh Mohammed in Kitui, Narok which was won by Peter Karino, Kilifi with Dickson Kahindi and Taita Taveta where Duncan Maganga carried the day.
Others are Alfred Kirui in Kericho, Eugine Okello in Busia, Samson Lotian in West Pokot among many others. At a glance, team blue claimed victory in the following counties; Bungoma, Kirinyaga, Makueni, Samburu, Tana River, Tharaka Nithi, Narok, Kisii, West Pokot, Kericho, Machakos, Bomet, Kwale, Siaya, Lamu, Tana river, Busia, Uasin Gishu, Nairobi East, Kitui, Embu, Nyeri, Laikipia, Nakuru, Nyamira, Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita Taveta.
Conspicuous, most incumbent FKF county chairmen were able to defend their seats save for a few like the Mombasa chairperson who lost the election and was affiliated to former FKF General Secretary Barry Otieno, two in the gray areas, partly affiliated to Nick Mwendwa and the Nandi chairman who has been an ally of Mwendwa as well.
The election was held after the High Court on Tuesday lifted conservatory orders that had barred the county elections that had been originally scheduled to be held last Saturday.
The following counties successfully completed their voting exercises and have transmitted results: Elgeyo Marakwet, Bomet, Bungoma, Nandi, Vihiga, Busia, Migori, Lamu, Kisii, West Pokot, Kisumu, Machakos, Embu, Kakamega, Narok,and Samburu.
Elections in Homabay, Turkana, and Mandera have been rescheduled, while repeat elections will be conducted in Nyandarua and Vihiga following ties in key positions.
