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Shimanyula is one of seven candidates who have thrown his hat in the ring for the position of FKF President.
Kakamega Homeboyz Chairman, Cleophas ‘Toto’ Shimanyula, has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidency, pledging significant reforms aimed at revitalising Kenyan football.
During the launch of his campaign at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega, Shimanyula laid out his vision for the future of football in the country, with a focus on restoring order and ensuring fairness in the sport.
Accompanied by Bandari FC vice chairman Twaha Mbarak as his running mate, Shimanyula outlined four key areas he intends to transform should he win the election on December 7. These areas reflect the pressing issues facing Kenyan football, from the grassroots level to the national stage.
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1. Timely Payments for Referees and Improved Refereeing Standards
One of the first changes Shimanyula has vowed to implement is ensuring timely payments for referees. He highlighted the current mismanagement, where referees have experienced up to two years of salary delays. Under his leadership, Shimanyula assured that such mismanagement would end.
"I can assure you that the mismanagement we’ve seen will end, especially the two-year-long salary delays for referees. That will not happen under my leadership," Shimanyula stated, emphasising the importance of supporting match officials for a smooth running of leagues. Additionally, he plans to introduce better training for referees to improve officiating standards across all competitions.
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2. Fair National Team Selection
Shimanyula also addressed the long-standing issue of national team selection, vowing to end the favouritism that has marred the process for years. He pointed out that many talented players are often overlooked simply because they don’t play for certain clubs.
"For years, we’ve seen issues with the national team selection process. Many talented players are overlooked simply because they don’t play for certain clubs. This has to change," he asserted. Under his leadership, Harambee Stars would benefit from a transparent selection process that ensures only the best players, regardless of their club affiliations, represent the nation.
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3. Securing Sponsorship for Women’s Football
Shimanyula has also set his sights on improving women’s football in Kenya, which he says has been severely neglected under the current regime. He highlighted the absence of sponsors and the lack of payment for female players, which has hindered the growth of the women’s game.
"The current regime has completely failed our girls. As we speak, there’s no sponsor, and the players are unpaid," Shimanyula lamented. If elected, he promises to secure sponsorship for the Women’s Premier League and ensure that female players receive their due wages.
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4. Eliminating Corruption in the National Super League
Another major reform Shimanyula aims to introduce is addressing the issue of corruption in the National Super League (NSL). Currently, NSL clubs are responsible for paying referees before matches, a system Shimanyula believes opens the door to bribery and match-fixing.
“National Super League teams are burdened with paying referees before matches, which opens the door to corruption as teams can bribe officials for favourable outcomes,” he explained.
Shimanyula promises to overhaul this system, ensuring that referees are paid centrally and on time, thus eliminating any opportunity for manipulation.
With the FKF presidential elections approaching, Shimanyula’s candidacy adds to an already competitive race, with contenders such as former FKF president Sam Nyamweya, Sammy ‘Kempes’ Owino, Tom Alila, and Hussein Mohammed also vying for the top position.
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