Muthee giving Omwela a fright in fight for union chairmanship

• New affiliates threaten the old order, Muniafu seen as the ‘spoiler’

Kenya Rugby Union supremo Richard Omwela faces a tough challenge from former Mwamba RFC boss Mwangi Muthee for the position of chairman in Tuesday’s union elections to be held at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground on Ngong Road.

Known as the Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU) since 1970, Tuesday’s AGM will be the first under the new name, KRU.

Incumbent Richard Omwela, 54, faces an intriguing battle for the chairmanship against rugby stalwart and ex-Kenya international Mike Mwangi Muthee, 49.

Omwela has been at the helm for eight years, and just before that he had served as the union’s secretary-general.

University don and Kenya’s best ever back row player, Max Muniafu, 48, is the third candidate for the top position. Backed by his employers’ club side USIU RFC, his candidature is likely to act as a ‘spoiler’ of sorts.

Three other directorships of the union’s eight are also vacant and have attracted eight candidates.

A total of 31 affiliate clubs are expected to cast their vote. Delegates from top-tier Kenya Cup club sides have two votes each and the lower division club sides one.

Since the last AGM, 13 new affiliates have joined KRU, the majority from outside Nairobi, and are expected to hold sway as the voting patterns of the older clubs are pretty well established.

Omwela was nominated by the KRU board and Muthee by Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad and the University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine.

The established voting affiliates are Nondescripts RFC, Impala RFC, Harlequins RFC, Mwamba RFC, Mean Machine RFC, Nakuru RFC, Strathmore RFC, KCB RFC, Mombasa RFC, BlakBlad RFC, Daystar University RFC, Kenya Poly RFC and USIU RFC.

The first eight hold two votes each by virtue of their Kenya Cup status. Freshly-relegated Machine were a Kenya Cup side by the start of the season, a potential point of controversy.

The new affiliates are Mbale RFC, Kisii RFC, Orynx RFC, Webuye RFC, Kakamega RFC, Siaya MTC RFC, Maseno University RFC, Masinde Muliro University RFC, Egerton University RFC, Moi University RFC, Homeboyz RFC, Kenya Methodist University RFC and KCA University RFC.

All these have a vote at the polls. They, together with the rest of the affiliates, have voting status subject to their having honoured 75 per cent of their 2010 fixtures and being in good standing with the union by having their affiliation fees paid up to date.

Sitting directors do not have a vote, although the four KRU officers have a vote each. The four officers, are in addition to Omwela, Fred “Niga” Odhiambo, Henry Emuye and Frank Sabwa, who hold the positions of vice-chair, treasurer and secretary respectively.

Validly nominated candidates

Isaac Mwangi, John Oimbo, George Adul, Maurice Masiga, Godwin Karuga, Terry Adembesa, Paul Nyamodi and Mike Rabar were the validly nominated Union Director candidates by the close of nominations a week ago.

Masiga is a co-opted director and he now seeks confirmation of his position through today’s elections. Impala nominee Karuga is a senior member of the Kenya Rugby Referees Society.

Kenya Harlequins chair Nyamodi, 40, is an ex-Kenya international forward and a credible rugby player and administrator.