Otuoma Reads Fifa Conspiracy in Poll Delay

15 June 2011

Nairobi — The government is running out of patience with world soccer governing body Fifa over the football elections in Kenya, Sports Minister Paul Otuoma said on Wednesday.

Reading conspiracy between Fifa and its cronies in Kenya in the delay, Otuma warned that the government “may be forced to take it upon [itself] to have the elections held.”

“We have been waiting since December to have an all-inclusive football election,” said the minister.

“We had a gentleman’s agreement with Fifa that they come up with a timetable.

“We have been patient enough but six months down the line we realise that maybe Fifa is not committed to having elections and we are losing our trust in the entire process.”

The aspirants also separately demanded that a date for the polls be announced.

Kenya Football Federation chairman Sam Nyamweya said the Independent Electoral Board should explain to Kenyans what is preventing them from setting the election date.

Extreme Sports director Mohammed Hussein accused IEB of dragging its feet while Sammy Sholei, of the Friends of Football group, and Benjamin “Sollo” Odhiambo also said the elections should be held the soonest possible.

And on Wednesday, IEB chairman Okwatch said clubs are being vetted and in two days the board would announce progress.

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