Court bars Mutai team from KRU
Kenya’s Bush Mwale charges forward against Argentina during their USA Sevens Bowl final at Sam Boyd Stadium on February 15, 2015. Kenya won 24-21. AFP PHOTO
What you need to know:
- High Court judge Justice Alfred Mabeya barred the new KRU officials from accessing or taking over the offices of the union, pending hearing of a case filed under a certificate of urgency by lawyer Michael Muchemi.
- Muchemi told the judge that unless the court intervenes, there will be two parallel management boards overseeing the affairs of the sport.
- Mr Muchemi said although the current chairman of KRU, Mr Gabriel Ouko, and the Secretary General, Mr Eddy Omondi, are out of the country attending to official matters regarding the sport, “there is no lacuna in the management of the union.”
The High Court on Tuesday ordered the Registrar of Sports not to recogonise new officials of the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), who were “irregularly elected” in a Special General Meeting on February 10.
High Court judge Justice Alfred Mabeya barred the new KRU officials from accessing or taking over the offices of the union, pending hearing of a case filed under a certificate of urgency by lawyer Michael Muchemi. Justice Mabeya further restrained the officials elected in the coup staged on Tuesday last week from interfering in the affairs of KRU.
The Judge, who certified the case as urgent, directed Mr Muchemi to serve all the 11 officials elected during the alleged SGM.
“I urge this court to certify this case urgent since the new officials will interfere with the management of KRU,” Mr Muchemi told the judge.
INTERVENTION OF THE COURT
He said there is no lacuna in the management of KRU and the country’s team performed well at the World Rugby Sevens in Las Vegas.
“The Kenyan team has so far won the Bowl,” Justice Mabeya heard.
Muchemi told the judge that unless the court intervenes, there will be two parallel management boards overseeing the affairs of the sport.
The lawyer identified to the judge those elected in the Februaru 10 “illegal polls” as Alexander Mutai, Gerald Chege, Jack Okoth, Joshua Aroni, Dr Ochieng Ahaya, Dan Kimoro, Doris Mwanzia, Ken Monari, Benjamin Ayimba, Patrick Mwangi and Kennedy Wasonga. KRU has named the Registrar of Sports, the Attorney General and the new purported officials as the defendants.
The judge was urged not to allow the new officials “disturb the status quo” pending hearing and determination of the case.
Mr Muchemi said although the current chairman of KRU, Mr Gabriel Ouko, and the Secretary General, Mr Eddy Omondi, are out of the country attending to official matters regarding the sport, “there is no lacuna in the management of the union.”
In his ruling, the judge said that KRU has established that it has prima facie case, which calls for the intervention of the court.
The judge ordered the registrar of sports not “register the new 11 board members elected during the February 10 Special General Meeting.”
He said for a period of 14 days, the old officials under the watch of Mr Ouko and Mr Omondi, will continue to run the affairs of KRU without any interference. The judge directed the case to be heard on March 2, 2015.
