AK meeting aborts as officials hold parallel function

An intense battle at Athletics Kenya beckons after an AK executive committee meeting that was to also feature all AK regional chairmen aborted Wednesday at Riadha House.

Instead, AK president, Isaiah Kiplagat, led a handful of elected executive committee members and three branch chairmen in a consultative meeting at the association’s headquarters.

Branch chairmen, who had earlier demanded a special general meeting, met in Nakuru Wednesday where they resolved to hold a special general meeting with or without the approval of AK’s headquarters.

CLOSED DOOR MEETING

Back in Nairobi, after a closed-door meeting at Riadha House attended by vice presidents Jackson Tuwei and Fatma Awale, Kiplagat said he was ready to leave office if members follow the right channel. Also in attendance were branch chairmen Paul Tuitok (universities), Abraham Mutai (Central Rift), Major (Rtrd) Rotich (North Rift).

“We did not have an executive committee meeting or a meeting of branch chairmen as planned but a small consultative meeting,” said Kiplagat. Kiplagat, who differed with the dissenting executive committee members and regional chairmen on various issues, indicated that those calling for a constitutional change attended meetings where the document was reviewed and endorsed.

Kiplagat termed the meeting that called for an SGM ‘unprocedural’, saying AK’s constitution has two articles that detail the process of summoning members for an SGM. 

Quoting section 10.2 (C) (A) of AK’s new constitution, Kiplagat said a special general meeting may be convened for any specific purpose by the executive committee, adding: “Notice of such meeting shall be sent to all members not less than seven days before the date of the meeting and where practicable, by a press advertisement not less than four days before the date of such meeting.”

“Section 10.2 (C) of the constitution also indicates that a special general meeting may also be convened through a written letter to the secretary-general after a meeting of not less than one third of AK’s 2,000 members. Such a meeting should be held within 21 days of the date of the SGM.

“I am ready to leave office through a fair process, but I will not allow the law of the jungle to prevail and bring ridicule to athletics in this country,” said Kiplagat.