Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential candidate Bonface Osano has named former footballer Innocent Mutiso as his running mate for the upcoming elections.
Mr Osano, a prominent African football journalist, made the announcement on Tuesday at Ufungamano House, Nairobi.
Mr Osano said he settled for Mutiso because of his vast experience in administrative issues and immense contribution to Kenyan football.
“I am pleased to state that after consulting stakeholders, I have settled for Innocent Mutiso as my running mate,” said Osano.
“With him on board, I get to feel the pulse of the game, the player. He’s also dynamic and proven leader, together we form the best bet for the future of Kenyan football.”
Innocent Mutiso is a former football star who turned for Kenyan Premier League sides Gor Mahia and Mathare United.
However, Mutiso is no stranger to football politics having served as chairman of Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA).
Recently, Mutiso has been a football pundit for various local and international media houses.
Before the Tuesday announcement, Mr Mutiso posted on his Facebook page; “For far too long, former footballers have been at the back seat of football politics.
“We have been branded complainers without really doing anything about it. I have drawn inspiration from one Sammy Shollei who against all odds won the deputy president of the FKF back in 2011. After various consultations, I have decided to make the first step and hope more ex-footballers will follow suit into football politics.
“I have been a servant of football in my playing career and also in my retirement and it pains me that youth football and women football have come as a second thought to the federation.
“I plan to change that if given the opportunity to serve as the deputy president of FKF. I plan to work with the primary soccer schools association and the secondary schools’ associations as they play a vital role in grooming the upcoming footballers into being responsible men in society.
“The director of football should work hand in hand with these institutions and academies so that we have an identity; currently we have none.
“Since I started playing football at the highest level, it has always been played in courts one way or the other and it’s time we took football back to the pitch.
“Players and fans alike are tired of all the endless court battles from selfish unscrupulous people who have no football in their hearts.
“We want a fair playing field in the upcoming elections after it was cancelled twice, the electoral code should be all-inclusive to allow for a level playing field.”
The FKF presidency, which has attracted many candidates, will see Osano battle it out against incumbent Nick Mwendwa, Herbert Mwachiro, Sammy Sholei, Nicholas Musonye, Twaha Mbarak, Lordvick Aduda, Harun Shivachi and Sam Nyamweya.
