The High Court on Friday, November 8, suspended the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) branch elections in Kitui which were scheduled for Saturday.
The latest stumbling block on the Federation emerged after a group calling itself Kenya Football Association filed a case asserting that they were the rightful body to oversee the elections.
As a result of the petition, the court issued an injunction that effectively blocked the FKF from conducting the polls. The elections were scheduled to take place in 48 branches across the 47 counties.
"It is hereby ordered that the Honourable Court grants a Conservatory order restraining the 1st and the 2nd Interested Party from carrying and election-related activities and more specifically hold elections on the 9th November 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the Preliminary Objection raised by 1st interested party on 12/11/2024 at 8.30am," an affidavit obtained by Kenyans.co.ke read.
In a post on X social media confirming the ruling, the FKF Elections Board stated it has suspended the elections in accordance with the ruling.
"We've taken note of the orders that have been issued by the Kitui High Court; consequently, all county elections scheduled for November 9 have been halted," the board stated.
With the latest setback, county elections in Kitui now faces a wave of uncertainty, with candidates who were set to compete in the polls forced to play the waiting game as they await the court's next decision.
Polls in the 47 other branches are, however, set to go on as planned, with Baringo, Tharaka Nithi, Kirinyaga and Makueni counties fielding candidates who will run unopposed.
Similarly, in Homa Bay, Mandera, Nakuru, Samburu, Tana River and Trans-Nzoia counties, no elections will be held for the chair and running mate positions since candidates for these positions are also running unopposed.
A week ago, it was all systems go in Kitui and all other counties after Hesbon Owilla, the chair of the FKF electoral board released the final list of candidates for county, National Executive Committee Member and Presidential positions.
Those elected as county chairpersons will participate as delegates in the upcoming national elections slated for December 7 where a new FKF President, Vice President and NEC Members will be elected. With Kitui set to miss out on county elections on Saturday, the county faces the risk of failing to field a chairperson for the FKF Presidential elections.
The upcoming polls to elect a new FKF President is set to be a hotly-contested one, as there will definitely be a new name at the helm after Nick Mwendwa has exhausted his two terms.
Mwendwa is, however, seeking to remain in an FKF leadership position by deputising Doris Petra, who has worked as his deputy during his tenure. This dynamic inevitably caused controversy, with Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen calling on the outgoing FKF boss to quit his ambitions.
