Kenyan set to be Africa’s first Olympic Games judge

The Olympic Games in London next year will have a Kenyan race walk judge, the first African to hold such a position.
The soft-spoken Joseph Ochieng’, popularly known as “Time keeper”, is also the first Level 3 race walk judge on the continent.

The Athletics Kenya Siaya sub-branch chairman, under Nyanza North branch, is also the national chairman of duathlon, Ochieng’ is also the chairman of Walk Kenya Committee and the interim chairman of the Walk Africa Committee.

Ochieng’, 55, is an engineer with an international organisation based in Kisumu.

Level 3 is done every four years when judges sit for examinations in order to remain in the position.

In the last examinations in October and November 2010, Ochieng’ emerged the second best overall in the world, losing narrowly to an Irishman.

He has attended several local and international seminars, the latest in Metz, France, in 2009.

Because of his impressive and exemplary resume, Ochieng’ was identified by the IAAF to be a lecturer for the training of Level 1 and 2 judges in Nairobi in 2008.

When during the last IAAF Congress, plans were mooted to train African judges at Level 2, the continent had only eight such judges – two from Kenya and six from Algeria.

Wears many hats

Ochieng’ does not however consider this an extra-ordinary achievement but calls on people to explore their talents and hobbies to the fullest.

A construction specialist in charge of all construction or renovation projects for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Kenya, he is based in Kisumu but oversees all such projects in the country for the American agency
Ochieng’ wears many hats.

Besides being a member of the Architectural Association of Kenya as well as the Institute of Clerks of Works of Kenya, he is also a Contracting Officers Representative through the American system of contracts.

His other hats are related to the sport he and the other board members are passionate about.

The man with 32 years of experience in sports management is also a board member of the American Richard M Brodsky Foundation.
Not only is he a qualified judge of track events, Ochieng’ also has knowledge of training as well. Over his decades officiating, he has travelled the world officiating in several countries.

Work has taken him to the World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan, in 2007, the same year he went to the African Junior Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He was a race walk judge in the 2006 African Junior Championships (Mauritius), as well as a chief race walk judge in this year’s edition in Gaborone, Botswana.

Ochieng’ also officiated at the Czech Republic World Race-walking Cup in 2007 and the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and Melbourne, Australia (2006). Last year, he was the race walk judge in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, and in the World Cup (Race-walking) in Mexico.

Rceently, Ochieng’ got an invitation to the race walking seminar scheduled for September 8-11 in Saransk, Russia. He has also been invited to officiate at the China National Walking Race from September 23-25.