By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Immediate former FKF chief Executive Officer Barry Otieno has declared for the football governing body presidency in the upcoming polls.
Otieno resigned from the position last week. He has since been replaced by Patrick Korir in an interim basis.
“I wish to announce my candidacy for the presidency of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). After serving as the federation’s General Secretary/Chief Executive Officer for the past five years, I have decided to take this step with a vision to elevate Kenyan football to new heights,” said Otieno.
He said his commitment and vision are simple: “To build a stronger, more inclusive, and more successful footballing nation, by developing football beyond the pitch.”
Otieno said club empowerment will be his priority. “We will focus on better involvement of clubs in the professionalization and management of the FKF leagues and Cup Competitions. Clubs are the backbone of our football ecosystem, and their voice and role in shaping our league’s future and national teams’ performances will be paramount,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
He promised to strengthen FKF’s governance structures by empowering FKF branches, committees, and judicial bodies.
“This decentralization will ensure more efficient and responsive management of our football both at the grassroots and national level,” he noted.
Further, he promised to invest in capacity building for football administrators in key areas including commercialization of football assets, communication and marketing, legal aspects, and strategic planning. This will ensure our sport’s growth both on and off the field.
“From grassroots to professional levels, we will create clear pathways for our talented youth, both boys and girls to reach their full potential,” he said.
He concluded: “Our Team believes in the immense potential of Kenyan football. With your support, we can transform this potential into reality. Together, we can build a federation that not only wins on the pitch but also excels in governance, development, and administration. We humbly ask for your support in this journey. Let’s unite, professionalize, and elevate Kenyan football to unprecedented heights.”
Otieno joins a crowded race which includes incumbent Nick Mwendwa, former international Sammy Kempes Owino, former NEC member Tom Alila, Murang’a Seal vice chairman Hussein Mohammed, former KPL CEO Jack Oguda among others.
