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{
"id": 33537,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/33537/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Otuoma",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports",
"speaker": {
"id": 132,
"legal_name": "Paul Nyongesa Otuoma",
"slug": "paul-otuoma"
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"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, hon. Oyongo-Nyamweya wanted to know whether the process will take place without the list of the voters and the candidates. Indeed, I said when I was making the Statement that there was the voters’ list of clubs that was out last week and even the number of candidates, but there was the issue of verification and agreeing whether those voters are really the genuine voters and whether the candidates meet the criteria to be candidates as provided for in the guidelines. That is the process that was supposed to have taken place last week and be concluded. We had asked them that if it was possible, they publish this in, at least, two or three media houses which have a national circulation because the elections are being done nationally. As I had said, this was not done and that is why I was saying that I am equally disappointed that FIFA was not keeping its part of the bargain with the Government. The issue of demonstrations and whether the elections will take place; the whole country is very anxious to get over this process. As a Government, we are equally committed to give Kenyans a credible federation that is elected by Kenyans themselves, has the integrity and the will to manage football in this country. Some of the problems that we have gone through previously in terms of running soccer in this country are contributing to these demonstrations because of the history that we have. People think that these elections will not be fair but I want to assure them that I will do everything possible to make sure that we have the right people to run football in this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on the issue raised by the Member for Ol Kalou as to whether some clubs were left out, there was a criterion and guidelines that were being used to select the clubs. So far, 1,500 clubs were selected, but as a Government, we had listed more than 6,000 active clubs that are registered in Kenya. We anticipated this to come. As a Government, we did our own check and we wanted the list published so that we could compare it with what we have, just to verify. This is what we had got from our Sports Officers. We need to see whether all those teams are part of the teams that are in the master roll. Of course, there were guidelines as to whether those clubs have participated in some league either nationally or provincially. That is why the list was watered down to 1,500 clubs. Once that is published, then the public can verify that, that is true. On the issue of credibility, the Kenya Football Federation has one of the worst records of all federations in this country. That is why we said that we wanted an independent body and not the federations themselves. Those are interested parties and we know how they have been conducting their elections through the delegates system where most of the delegates have nothing to do with football. That is why this time we want the clubs to vote directly as clubs and not through the delegate system. That is what the Member for Mosop wanted to know. Mr. Speaker, Sir, hon. Khalwale knows very well, even what happens during the FIFA elections themselves. We saw what transpired during the FIFA elections. There should be no doubt in anybody’s mind that there are problems in Zurich, and those problems are being transferred to Africa. In Europe, UEFA is the federation which regulates football. It deals with football federations in Europe. When it comes to Africa, FIFA wants to micro-manage football. The CAF is not playing its legitimate role. So, we have a wider problem, which is beyond our borders. We are trying to say that once we have a federation that is credible, it should be the one to confront FIFA and say we want CAF to have the same mandate that UEFA has been having, so as to deal with issues of football in Africa. As regards the question asked by the Member for Nyakach, if we sever links with FIFA, the only thing that will happen is that we will not participate in FIFA organised matches for two years. Thereafter, we can reply. Had I done that from the time I took charge of the Ministry, one year would already have lapsed. So, we are ready to sever links with FIFA, so that we can re-organise ourselves if these elections are not going to be credible, or if we feel that we have tried, as Government. As I told you, my patience has really been overstretched on this issue. People say that I am not commenting on the matter. I have been trying to see what we can do to salvage the situation. However, as it appears, I am equally anxious about the young men and women you have seen demonstrate out there. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as a veteran of football administration in Kenya, hon. Sambu knows better. He was even injured because of football. He is very much aware of the kind of thuggery that exists in the management of football in this country. Some of the officials who were there during his time are still there. So, he should be aware of this, if he is contemplating to, once again, participate in this football affair. The issue of integrity and leadership is still a major problem in the management of football. I have no doubt in my mind that FIFA is the root cause of all these problems, because of trying to micro- manage football in Africa and maintaining status quo in certain countries. Europe is resisting this tendency. I am sure that we can also resist it in Africa. That is why I said we are ready to sever our links with FIFA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
}