It’s same old story as Nock team returns

What you need to know:

  • Executives get back their posts as opposition fizzles out at election

As expected, there is no change at the National Olympic Committee of Kenya’s headquarters as 17 affiliate federations were on Friday called for an election to merely rubber stamp another four-year term for the incumbents.

Chairman Kipchoge Keino had the last laugh as his wish to maintain the status quo was granted. Even his loudest critics, including assistant minister Alfred Khangati, were prevailed upon to withdraw their candidatures as Keino walked back into office without having to endure a fight.

Two affiliates, Athletics Kenya and Kenya Football Federation, however, did not take part in the elections.

KFF, which according to Nock is the recognised football affiliate of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), had its chairman, Sam Nyamweya, and secretary, Omondi Aduda, called in as observers.

But AK, with its chairman Isaiah Kiplagat serving as a life member of Nock, opted to stay away although secretary general, David Okeyo, was present and was voted in as second vice chairman unopposed.

An earlier call by Kiplagat to have the second vice chairman’s slot dropped from the posts open for election was not adopted.
Kiplagat had written to Nock raising the red flag over alleged double standards in the run-up to the elections.

The AK boss claimed some candidates were allowed to present their nomination papers “hours after the expiry of the deadline.”
But that did not hold water.

Even Khangati, who was to challenge for the first vice chairman’s slot, threw in the towel at the last minute, citing a secret meeting by the incumbent that had agreed to lock him out.

“It is apparent, the executive committee went behind my back, through secret meetings, and ganged up their choice of candidates,” he said.

Khangati also pointed out that Nock changed the delegates’ names to bring to the floor only those who would dance to their tune.

Favours and handouts were also pointed out as the main bait the incumbent used to lure votes and convince other challengers to step down.

But Khangati threw a spanner in the Nock works by asking for internal reforms.

He said he had raised the ‘small matter’ back in 2006 in his document ‘Internal Reforms in Nock’ in which he sort for transparence in the exclusive house. The Annual General Meeting, opted to skip the issue.

Nock is primarily charged with preparing national teams for the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games besides training coaches and deserving athletes under the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity programme.

“We have a new lease and the challenge ahead is tough. Our credibility has been restored, but we will be judged by what we will deliver after four years. The youths of this country must never be taken at ransom and we will strive to see we do well in Olympics, Commonwealth Games and All Africa games,” said Keino.

Long-serving treasurer

In the polls, which took about 40 minutes, Keino retained his chairman’s seat unopposed, so did secretary general Francis K. Paul. Paul had taken over from the late Tom O’omuombo.

Long-serving treasurer, Fridah Shiroya, and her assistant, Stephen Soi, as well as second vice chairman, David Okeyo, were given mandate to run the IOC affiliate without any opposition.

With Khangati shying off, incumbent Peter Nderitu returned as first vice chairman.

James Chacha prevailed upon swimming’s Ben Ekumbo to stand down and recaptured his seat of assistant secretary general while the committee member’s posts went to incumbents John Roberts (boxing), Catherine Ndereba (athletics) and Resham Bains (hockey).