• "I state categorically that I will attend the FKF AGM scheduled for 16th March 2024, as the representative of Bandari FC. I don't need permission from FKF to do so because the law is clear in article 23 of the FKF Constitution 2017," Mbarak remarked.
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A big showdown looms at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Annual General Meeting scheduled for Saturday with some delegates alleging blatant attempts to lock them out.
Bandari FC vice-chairman Twaha Mbarak insisted in a statement on Tuesday that he would attend the scheduled AGM even as it emerged that he had been excluded from the list of delegates.
Mbarak has declared his intentions to vie for the FKF presidency in the forthcoming elections.
The seasoned football administrator, who once served as the federation's vice president during Sam Nyamweya's reign, insists he has every constitutional right to attend the meeting.
"I state categorically that I will attend the FKF AGM scheduled for 16th March 2024, as the representative of Bandari FC. I don't need permission from FKF to do so because the law is clear in article 23 of the FKF Constitution 2017," Mbarak remarked.
The development comes barely a day after another FKF presidential hopeful, Hussein Mohammed, discovered he had been barred from the meeting.
Mohammed has steadily risen to the national limelight after promoting grassroots football through the Super 8 tournament over the past two decades.
In a communique to Kenyan Premier League newbies Murang’a Seal FC, FKF chief executive officer Barry Otieno said FKF will not allow Mohammed to attend the AGM at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE).
"We would like to inform you that Mr. Hussein Mohammed is not registered with FKF as a member of Murang'a SEAL FC or FKF in general. He is therefore ineligible to represent Murang'a SEAL FC in the upcoming FKF Annual General Meeting," the letter read in part.
But in a swift rejoinder, Murang’a Seal FC honcho Robert Macharia insisted that Mohammed will hold a brief for SEAL at the AGM, stating that FKF had no business making that decision on their behalf.
"Unless he becomes ill, Hussein Mohammed is scheduled to attend the AGM. As the club's vice chairman, he speaks for me when I'm not around."
The FKF constitution stipulates that the AGM attendance will comprise representatives from each of the 18 KPL clubs, 10 drawn from the 18 National Super League (NSL) clubs, representatives from each of the 47 counties and others from the National Division One teams, totalling 94 delegates.