Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of the Football Kenya Federation, fellow football enthusiasts, and distinguished guests,
Thank you for gathering here today.
I stand before you not just as an aspirant for the Football Kenya Federation president, but as a passionate advocate for the beautiful game that unites us all. We are here to chart a new course for football in Kenya, a course defined by our shared values of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.
Vision for Transformation
My vision for our federation is clear: to create a football landscape where every player, coach, referee, fan, partners and every stakeholder feels valued and empowered. Together, we can elevate our game from the grassroots to the elite level, ensuring that football in Kenya thrives today, and for generations to come.
Transparency and Accountability
Transparency is the bedrock of any successful organization. I pledge to ensure that our operations are open, accountable, and accessible to everyone. We will implement regular public reporting on our financial activities, decision-making processes, and governance practices.
Women's Football Development
The growth of women's football is not just a responsibility; it's an opportunity for us to create a more inclusive and vibrant football culture. I commit to promoting women's football at all levels, from grassroots to elite.
Professionalism for the growth of our elite leagues
Professionalism is crucial for the growth of our elite leagues. We need to elevate the standards of our leagues, making them competitive and attractive for both players and fans. My vision includes establishing clear guidelines for club management, financial sustainability, and player contracts. I will release the management of the leagues from the federation. This I promise to prioritize, as it is a proven good practice all over the world where football is thriving. FKF must be a regulator, not a micro-manager of our leagues. In doing so, ladies and gentlemen, we will work towards creating a competitive environment that not only attracts local talent but also international players. By enhancing our leagues, we can provide a platform for our players to shine and for our clubs to thrive – building strong base for our national teams. If we can answer the question of our league's quality, we will have automatically answered the question of our national teams. Yes we can, become AFCON, WAFCON and World Cup regulars!
The welfare of all our football stakeholders
The welfare of all our football stakeholders is paramount. I will advocate for fair wages, comprehensive health insurance, and support systems for players, referees, and coaches. This includes mental health resources, career development programs, and retirement plans. Our players give their all on the pitch; it is our responsibility to ensure they are supported off the pitch. We will prioritize needs and rights of all football professionals. My administration will seek to have more attention on the players, not in the officials. I am presenting to you, ladies and gentlemen, a choice of shifting the conversation from politics of the game to the game itself, and its players.
Effective governance and management
to oversee the day-to-day activities of the federation. Each committee will focus on key areas such as youth development, women's football, grassroots initiatives, and professional leagues. These committees will operate with autonomy and accountability, allowing us to respond swiftly and effectively to the needs of our football community. Together, we will foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. The committees will never be entities of securing interests of the boss. No! In any case, there will be no boss; I will be just a first among equals – a servant leader. In the spirit of collaborative leadership, I present to you that: Hakuna Kulia na Alila. In conclusion, my fellow football lovers, we have a unique opportunity before us. We have an opportunity to transform our football landscape into one that reflects our values of transparency, inclusivity, and professionalism. I invite you to join in the journey of building a federation that understands and values the role of every stakeholder, in fixing football today, and it's future. I Tom Alila, ask for your support, your trust, and your commitment as we embark on this journey together.
Conclusion
I solemnly promise, Hakuna Kulia na Alila, in our Kenyan football.
Let's take football in Kenya to new heights! Thank you. Thank you!