Only total overhaul will clean up AK mess, says Nyandarua official

Athletics Kenya (AK) President Isaiah Kiplagat addressing a press conference on October 14, 2014 at Riadha House. Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario has welcomed the move by Mr Kiplagat to step aside. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Mwaniki has urged 15 out of AK’s 16 branches seeking to reform AK by removing the top brass to send the whole team home, saying that is the surest way of bringing change in the body.
  • Mwaniki, who is also an executive member of the Central Region AK branch, however urged caution, saying squabbles could ruin the sport in Kenya as happened in Tanzania and South Africa.

Nyandarua Athletics Kenya branch chairman Francis Kamau Mwaniki has said only a total overhaul of the AK will help reform the national federations

Mwaniki has urged 15 out of AK’s 16 branches seeking to reform AK by removing the top brass to send the whole team home, saying that is the surest way of bringing change in the body.

“Let them (dissatisfied AK branches) remove everybody so that we go back to election and have new people running the association,” Mwaniki said in Nyahururu.

KEEP OFF WRANGLES
Fifteen of AK’s 16 branches have been pushing for a special annual general meeting to discuss issues affecting athletics in the country and mismanagement at the national office.

Mwaniki, who is also an executive member of the Central Region AK branch, however urged caution, saying squabbles could ruin the sport in Kenya as happened in Tanzania and South Africa.

He traced the origin of the squabbles to AK’s decision stage trials of the 2012 Olympic Games in Eugene, USA “where the team was accompanied by only AK officials and no coach.”

Mwaniki urged athletes to keep off the wrangles and to concentrate on representing the country in races.

SUPPORT COACHES
He urged all stakeholders to team up with the Government and AK to fight the doping problem facing Kenyan runners.

He urged the Professional Athletes Association of Kenya (PAAK) to educate runners on their rights and to be a role model for upcoming runners.

He said PAAK should support local coaches and work to prevent its members from falling victims of doping through associating with foreign managers.