Federations risk missing Nock elections

Five federations run the risk of being barred from taking part in the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) elections due May 5 for failing to file returns with the Registrar of Sports.

In a letter to Nock detailing federations that have either conformed with the law or have been issued with interim certificates, Sports Registrar Rose Wasike indicated that Kenya Rowing and Canoe Association and Kenya Cycling are yet to conform to Section 50 of the Sports Act that requires federations to file returns.

Other federations that have not conformed to requirements are Kenya Handball Federation, Kenya Weightlifting Federation and Kenya Taekwondo Federation.

Wasike wrote to Nock in a letter dated April 19, this year after Nock sought to know the state of federations ahead of the elections.

The five federations are among 20 Nock affiliates which will vote during Nock elections. Should they be barred from participating in the elections, it could deal a big blow most of the incumbents since the officials are linked to the five federations.

Rowing and Canoeing federations have not been issued with a certificate since they have two warring factions that have a case at the Sports Tribunal. The tribunal is due to make a ruling on Tuesday.

The ruling will clear the air on who will attend and vote at Nock elections.

Cycling federation, too, has two factions that are seeking registration and have both been denied registration while Handball Federation’s legality is subject of scrutiny by Sports Registrar after the Sports Tribunal had ruled that it be disbanded.

Weightlifting federation officials picked registration forms on March 13, 2014 and are yet to return them for registration while Taekwondo officials, too, have two warring factions that are seeking registration.

The Registrar has denied them registration until they sort out the mess.

The current Nock secretary general, Francis Paul, is the Handball Federation chairman while Nock’s first vice president, Pius Ochieng, heads the weightlifting federation.

Nock deputy secretary James Chacha, who is seeking to unseat his boss Paul, could miss the blessings of the taekwondo federation.

Paul will battle Chacha, Kenya Table Tennis Association chairman Andrew Mudibo and Kenya Rugby Union director John Kilonzo for the seat.