Ingwe polls candidates in for thorough vetting

Thorough vetting will be done on registered club members and candidates vying for various posts in the AFC Leopards Elections set for July 3 with the Electoral Board set to start preparations for the polls next week.

Board secretary, Irene Tindi told Citizen Digital a registration notice will be released spelling out requirements for anyone interested in vying for positions at the club that has been plagued by leadership crisis.

The Board will be relying on a member’s list generated by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) that will be subjected to verification before it is used as an election register.

“We are still waiting for the list from the IMC so that we may commence our work next week. When they give us the register we will now start talking to the candidates and eventually release the official list of those who are vying,” Tindi asserted.

The Secretary added rules and regulations to be followed will also be posted once the membership list has been forwarded to the Board.

She affirmed that unlike previous Ingwe elections, candidates will undergo a vigorous vetting exercise aimed at ensuring genuine leaders are elected to serve the Kenyan Premier League giants.

According to her, candidates will have to fulfil requirements of Chapter 6 of the Kenya Constitution of 2010 that touches on integrity and conduct of public servants before being allowed to run.

Among other things, the Chapter demands an official to be bound by ‘selection on the basis of personal integrity, competence and suitability, or election in free and fair elections; objectivity and impartiality in decision making, and in ensuring that decisions are not influenced by nepotism, favouritism, other improper motives or corrupt practices; selfless service based solely on the public interest.’

Other key requirements are aspirants must be Kenyan citizens and must pay a nomination fee that will be set by the Board.

At the same time, IMC Secretary, Maurice Osundwa, said that the club’s Executive will meet with the Board and Sports Tribunal on Thursday to come up with a date for Special General Meeting that will ratify decisions and programme for the polls.

“We are going to Court this afternoon (Tuesday) to update the Tribunal on the progress so that we may we may discuss dates of the SGM,” Osundwa confirmed.

Former Secretary General and Football Kenya Federation vice-president; Robert Asembo, IMC co-chair; Dan Mule, Anthony Lung’aho, Maurice Amuhawa and Oscar Igadia have declared interest in the top post so far.

-Report by Godfrey Ashiali