Legendary athlete Paul Tergat launches Nock presidency bid

Legendary long-distance runner Paul Tergat officially launched his bid for the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) presidency on Tuesday in Nairobi ahead of the May 5 election.

Tergat also cashed in on the occasion to unveil his team ahead of the election.

A total of eight sports federations, including Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Athletics Kenya, were at the launch to support Tergat's candidature.

Kenya Judo Association president Shadrack Maluki and Athletics Kenya president Lt-Gen (rtd) Jackson Tuwei will run as Tergat's first and second vice-presidents, respectively.

Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) boss Andrew Mudibo, who was the leader of the federations that championed for the new Nock constitution, will contest as secretary-general, with Tennis Kenya vice-president Francis Mutuku running as deputy secretary-general.

Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) vice-president Elina Shiveka will contest as treasurer, with Boxing Association of Kenya (BAK) president John Kameta running as her deputy.

Committee members are Catherine Ndereba (Athletics Kenya), Shoiab Vayani (Shooting) and Babes Muriithi (FKF).

Tergat, the five times World Cross Country champion and former world marathon record holder, will take on incumbent and legendary Kipchoge Keino during the election.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) president Waithaka Kioni is said to be eying the top seat too but hastened that is in no rush to declare his position opting “to watch with keen interest as things unfold.”

Tergat noted the doors have not been closed to others since they still have three more positions to fill for the women representative and athlete representative men and women.

“There are many other sub committees that we shall form after winning the election, which we shall incorporate other federations,” said Tergat, who promised good governance, professionalism and accountability if elected as Nock president. “There will be no smaller or bigger federations during my tenure. All will be equal.”

Tergat paid tribute to Keino as the greatest runner, a statesman, a father and a leader but noted that the changing sports arena has brought in some dynamics hence fresh ideas and young leadership was needed at Nock.

“Kipchoge’s legacy is unrivalled and well known globally with him having received the inaugural top most Olympics Laurel,” Tergat said. “However, I am an Olympian, an IOC member and with passion and right skills for Nock leadership.”

“Demoralising athletes simply kills the future of sports in Kenya and that has been happening at Nock,” said Tergat.

DIVERSIFICATION

Tergat promised to prioritise programmes that will lead to diversification in sports in the country. “I wants us to have a strong team at 2020 Tokyo Olympics but my target will specifically be 2024 Olympics where I want Kenya represented virtually in all the sports,” said Tergat.

“We need to venture away from athletics in terms of medal prospects at major events and my team will work towards that.”

Tergat said his leadership will be all inclusive with federations, the government and all stakeholders forging one front that will harness and nurture young talent. “We shall not relent in our advocacy for cleaner sports by adopting zero tolerance approach towards doping.”

While supporting Tergat’s bid, FKF president Nick Mwendwa said: "The wave of change has been sweeping right from IAAF, Fifa to Caf and its time for the same at Nock.”

Tuwei said it’s time to look at the future and not concentrate on the past. “That future starts today with Tergat, who is capable and will have a team that is qualified to take Nock to the next level,” said Tuwei noting that the current Nock regime had stopped planning for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Omwela, who was re-elected as Kenya Rugby Union chairman on March 22, promised to "show Tergat how elections are won."

“We were set to craft Plan “B” with likeminded federations if Tergat failed to offer his candidature but we are happy he has made a wise decision,” said Omwela.