FKF Elections: Former Deputy CEO Mwachiro set to vie for Federation's Presidency

Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) deputy General Secretary/CEO Herbert Mwachiro has officially joined the race for the federation's top seat.

Mwachiro, who has been involved in sporting activities in Kenya for over 30 years, is currently chairman of the NOCK Sports and Environment Commission and Kepsa Sports, President of the Environment Institute of Kenya and heads the Culture and Arts Board.

"I, Herbert Mwachiro, hereby declare my candidature for the post of Football Kenya Federation president ahead of the upcoming polls," Mwachiro said in a signed statement.

My decision to run for the top football seat in the country is informed by the desire to transform the football industry to a sustainable sector that will put Kenya where it deserves to be on the continental and global football map. 

While meaningful progress has been made under different administrations over the past decade, the main stakeholders of the game who are players continue to suffer and struggle to make ends meet.  

Mwachiro believes the game is not well packaged to entice sponsors and as a result, the players cannot make a decent living.

"The game is not well packaged thus the need to bring in the much-needed professionalism through my marketing background and vast experience in the corporate world. We need to package our game in a way that will make it attractive to partners and ensure our players make a meaningful living from football. 

"My focus will not only be on all tiers of club football but also on youth, grassroots and women's football. This vision will be achieved through commercial partnerships and partnership with the government that will ensure the smallest units (wards, constituencies and counties) contribute to football development," he added.

The administrator has also revealed how he will ensure Harambee Stars makes it to Africa's elite competitions regularly.  

"Kenya deserves to be a regular competitor at the Africa Cup of Nations because we have talent in abundance in all corners of this country. My team will partner with all relevant football stakeholders to build strong leagues and solid structures that Kenyan football badly needs to move to the next level. 

It’s high time football makes headlines for the right reasons. When football succeeds, sports succeed. Once elections are called, I will unveil my team. I hereby invite like-minded individuals to back my team as we begin this journey to transform Kenyan football.  

In July 2018, the administrator quit from the Federation, after just seven months, for what he termed as 'differences in opinion' with the then CEO Robert Muthomi.

However, Barry Otieno, who was serving as the Head of Communications stated the contract had expired and it was not renewed.

Apart from incumbent Nick Mwendwa, his predecessor Sam Nyamweya has confirmed he is in the race for the FKF seat. The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) Secretary General Nicholas Musonye is also in the race.

Others who have shown interest in the Presidential seat are former Vihiga County's Moses Akaranga and Gor Mahia's CEO Omondi Aduda.