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FKF approves 18-team league


Football Kenya Federation delegates on Friday gave the Kenyan Premier League Limited the green light to continue running the top-flight during the body’s third Annual General Meeting in Nairobi.

FKF severed ties with the company earlier this year following a spat between the two bodies. But on Friday, the delegates agreed to readmit KPL and let it continue running the league.

KPL however had to make certain compromises. The 16 KPL chairmen agreed to have the name of the league changed to Football Kenya Federation Premier League and increase the number of participating teams from 16 to 18 beginning next season.

They will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding with FKF.

The National Executive Council’s proposal that all suspended officials be granted amnesty without reservations was also unanimously ratified by the delegates, freeing the likes of Dan Shikanda, Hussein Terry and Sammy Sholei from years spent serving indefinite suspensions.

Hussein who was the only beneficiary present during the meeting said: “Justice has been done. I thank God and the delegates for lifting my suspension and I feel like I have been given a new lease of life. I shall now return to the Coast to explore the options available for me. I hope to contest for the top seat in the coming elections.”

CONTENTIOUS ISSUE

The meeting ran smoothly and the only “contentious issue” turned out to be Agenda 13, touching on last year’s financial statements. The report was however approved.

FKF boss Sam Nyamweya, who arrived at the venue bright and early, carried an unusually tranquil demeanor, which was a sharp contrast to his usual extroverted personality.

On his arrival at the scene, Nyamweya took time to make it clear that he was “in no mood for a fight”, and he even said in his address to the delegates that he wanted to leave a legacy.

Among the other contentious issues that were passed during the meeting was the splitting of  Rift Valley Branch into two branches, and a committee was set up to ensure balance.

The delegates also resolved that the next general elections scheduled for November 13 be presided over by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and that a special electoral code be formed for that contest.