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Alila, who was an FKF NEC Member representing the Nyanza region under the regime of Sam Nyamweya, has vowed to facilitate Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards and Shabana into embracing the corporate model.
Tom Alila, a candidate for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidency, has pledged to help community clubs complete their transition into corporate entities, should he be elected in the upcoming elections scheduled for December.
Alila officially launched his campaign, aptly titled Hakuna Kulia na Alila (No Complaints with Alila), which focuses on modernising the structure of community clubs and promoting transparency within Kenya’s football leagues.
In his candidacy announcement, Alila underscored his commitment to supporting community clubs, notably Shabana, AFC Leopards, and Gor Mahia, two of which are in the process of becoming limited liability companies.
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He believes this modernisation is essential to ensure the financial sustainability and growth of these historic clubs. Drawing inspiration from Tanzanian clubs like Yanga and Simba, which successfully transitioned into corporate entities, Alila highlighted how this shift has attracted sponsorships and bolstered their performance.
“We have faced numerous challenges regarding club management,” Alila explained responding to Pulse Sports during his campaign launch.
“Community clubs need a corporate foundation to attract sponsors. No corporate entity will invest in a club without proper accountability structures. Tanzania has already made this move with Yanga and Simba, and the results are evident. Most Tanzanian teams now enjoy corporate sponsorship, and this is what we must strive for in Kenya."
He emphasised the importance of engaging club fans in this transition: “It requires deeper discussions with the supporters to ensure they are on board with the shift to corporate status. AFC Leopards, Shabana, and Gor Mahia have large fan bases.
“Streamlining them into corporate structures will create a win-win situation, as companies will benefit from membership and fan engagement, while the clubs will thrive.”
Alila also revealed that Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards are already in the process of becoming limited companies, but he lamented that many other top-tier clubs lack a significant fan base. “If elected, I will initiate conversations to support these clubs in their transition," he said.
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In addition to his focus on corporate transitions, Alila has voiced his commitment to reviving football in the Nyanza and Western regions. He criticised the current FKF administration, led by Nick Mwendwa, for neglecting these football-rich areas, which have historically produced some of Kenya's finest players.
“When this federation took over, we had five teams in the Kenya Premier League from my region—Muhoroni Youth, SoNy Sugar, Agro-Chemical, Chemelil FC, and Muhoroni Youth. Now, only Shabana remains,” Alila stated.
“Football in Nyanza and Western Kenya has been largely ignored, despite the fact that this is where most of the sport is played. While there are still four or five women’s teams in the second-tier league, the men’s game has suffered. The current regime has only supported clubs linked to their inner circle, and that needs to change."
As Kenya prepares for the FKF national elections on 7 December, with county-level polls set for November, Alila’s candidacy promises to introduce vital reforms. With a focus on modernisation, corporate accountability, a
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