Concerns as Nock goes to polls
A number of concerns from aspirants are arising even as the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) goes to polls today.
Delay in the release of the voting delegates list, failure to do adequate document verification and rigging of elections are some the pointers raised by Moses Mbuthia who is vying for the treasurer position.
Mbuthia has faulted the Centre for Corporate Governance (CCG), a body mandate to oversee the polls, for showing bias by only meeting the current office bearers instead of meeting all the aspirants and chat on the modalities of the polls.
“We want CCG to explain publicly why they have not met the candidates, worse still why the candidates have not seen the sample of election ballots,” he said in a statement.
Mbuthia has also raised concerns of alleged voter bribery where delegates are supposed to have money wired to their accounts after voting in the current office holders.
“There have been cases where a section of the current office bearers are using high ranking government officials to intimidate opponents to step down in favour of the incumbent,” said Mbuthia in his letter dated December 8, 2021 and addressed to Returning Officer Joshua Okumbe.
Mbuthia who will battle with incumbent Anthony Kariuki for the treasures post, further claims in his letter that the Executive can not hold the sole privilege of appointing observes, he advises that federations be allowed to fronting their own during the exercise to make it free and fair.
This even comes as Agnes Aluoch oozed with confidence after getting clearance to vie at the polls and she believes that against all odds she will bag the deputy treasurer’s seat. The Kenya National Paralympics Committee president was dealt a major blow last week after she missed out on the preliminary list of NOC-K voting delegates for the electoral congress set for Pride Inn Hotel, in Westlands on Thursday morning.
She is still optimistic she will trounce John Ogolla from weightlifting federation for that post, despite the opponent having a voting advantage. Aluoch was seconded by Kenya Tae kwondo Association while Ogolla received the nod from Kenya Sports Shooting Federation.
“I have not given up yet,” said Aluoch.
“I still believe in God and that he will work out his miracles and that I will be allowed to vote on Thursday. I have not been given reasons as to why that privilege has been taken away. I am just hopeful come Thursday, something will change, in the meantime, I am campaign and seeking votes,” she said.
President Paul Tergat will serve in that position for another four-year term after no candidate presented papers to challenge him for the position.
Tergat, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) member is among three officials, who are set to retain their positions unopposed during the Electoral Congress, with no challengers coming up.
The others are Athletes Representatives Humphrey Kayange (Male) and Hellen Obiri (Female).
IOC member
Elections had initially been scheduled to take place last year but were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Three candidates have been confirmed as standing for the first deputy president position. Incumbent and Kenya Judo Federation representative Shadrack Maluki, Kenya Rugby director John Kilonzo and Kenya Hockey Union President Nashon Randiek are in contention for the role.
Kenya Volleyball Federation official Waithaka Kioni, who served as the country’s Chef de Mission at Tokyo 2020, will stand for re-election as second deputy president. He will face former World marathon record holder Tegla Lorupe.
Three candidates are standing for the secretary general position, including incumbent Francis Paul.
Current deputy secretary general Francis Mutuku and Kenya Table Tennis Association President Andrew Mudibo have also been confirmed as candidates.
Mutuku while releasing their four-year score card said NOC-K now stands tall in the midst of global Olympic bodies with honour and dignity because of the reforms and modernisation that have been implemented and achieved.
He said the current office will look back with a sense of satisfaction for restoring and rebuilding the brand reputation of Kenya’s Olympic body guided by our Strategic Plan, 2019-24.
“The transformation is a product of a cohesive, foresighted and strategic leadership that settled down to business upon assuming the mantle of reforming and guiding NOC-K to greatness,” said Mutuku.
According to Mutuku, NOC-K also prides in the brand building that has been done in the reporting period, which has seen the institution logo redeveloped and a commercial logo developed.
This has aided NOC-K to develop Team Kenya assets to be more marketable and attractive to the new age, and has seen it borne fruit through strategic partners coming on board, including the extension of Nike contract by 8 years, Tusker and Kenya Charity Sweepstake signing a 5-year partnership until Paris 2024.
“Athletes remain the centre of our operations. Athletes’ welfare programs have been established; health and financial cushioning from the coronavirus, online topical education, post career training, adequate kitting, medal prize money, and a gender policy in games operations.
This is an ongoing matter and should take center stage going forward for the Kenyan athlete to perform optimally,” said Mutuku.
Elsewhere, Former holder James Chacha, Kenya Softball chairman Francis Karugu and Mohammed Shoaib have shown interest in the assistant secretary’s seat.
Paurvi Rawal (Tennis Kenya) will go head to head with Mududa Waweru (Kenya Volleyball Federation) in the women representative contest.
Paul Otula, and Winnie Kamau, who was seconded by Sports Dispute Tribunal, will be seeking to defend their committee members’ positions.
It has not been made clear why SDT, which is not affiliated to NOC-K was allowed to second Kamau for that position.
Boxing Federation of Kenya treasurer Benjamin Musa, Kenya Cycling Federation general secretary, Charles Mose, and Athletics Kenya (AK) official Barnaba Korir are among the other candidates for the Executive Committee.
Four National Federations have been barred from having candidates or votes in the election.
Disputes involving the badminton, football, golf and swimming federations led to the bodies being prevented from participating in the elections.
Centre for Corporate Governance, which is the electoral board and who released eligible nominees for NOCK elections last week are set to conduct the elections today.
