Aiba backs BAK, warns government to keep off elections
What you need to know:
- Mung’ori was appointed BAK secretary general during BAK Council meeting that was convened by then the acting secretary general David Munuhe on August 24, this year at Kaloleni Social Hall
- BAK council met a week ago to set January 3 next year as the new date for elections
- Virgets noted that Aiba may send an observer to the election at the discretion of the President or at the request of the National Federation in which case the National Federation shall pay the costs and expenses of the observer
The International Amateur Boxing Association (Aiba) has warned the government from interfering with Boxing Association of Kenya (BAK) elections.
At the same time, Aiba executive director Tom Virgets has indicated in a letter to BAK President John Kameta that they only recognise Paul Mung’ori as BAK secretary general.
“It has been brought to my attention that the autonomy of the Boxing Association Kenya (BAK) is being threatened due to external interference by the government,” said Virgets in a letter dated November 22, this year.
Mung’ori was appointed BAK secretary general during BAK Council meeting that was convened by then the acting secretary general David Munuhe on August 24, this year at Kaloleni Social Hall.
Mung’ori replaced Isaac Mbote, who had been suspended back in 2016 for missing executive committee meetings.
BAK Council met again on September 26, this year to set November 16 as the date for elections.
On November 6 this year, Sports Dispute Tribunal and Sports Registrar moved to stop BAK elections that were due November 16 this year in Nairobi.
Sports Dispute Tribunal ordered BAK to convene for a Special General Meeting (SGM) immediately to plan for the elections that must be held within 60 days from November 6, this year.
Sports Registrar Rose Wasike told BAK that the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Rashid Echesa had demanded for inspection of the organisation’s activities and a report submitted within two weeks from November 4, this year.
BAK council met a week ago to set January 3 next year as the new date for elections.
Two weeks later, Wasike moved to reinstate Mbote, throwing both the administration at BAK and the National League into disarray.
Mbote moved to change the fourth leg of the National Boxing League, that was planned for this week starting Thursday, from Mwingi to Kakamega.
That has seen two championships being held in Kakamega and Mwingi simultaneously.
Virgets said that BAK elections must be conducted in line with the BAK constitution and Aiba Statutes and insisted that the Council resolutions passed on August 24 and September 26 this year must be respected. “Any appeal should be launched through the established channels,” said Virgets.
“Currently, Aiba will only recognize the appointment of Lt Col P B Mung’ori as the Ag Secretary General (SG). Aiba will only accept correspondence from his office,” said Virgets as he directed BAK to organise elections as soon as possible in order to fully establish a board in accordance with Aiba and BAK statutes.
“Kindly inform the Aiba headquarters of the scheduled elections and submit relevant documents,” said Virgets in a letter that was copied the Ministry of Sports and Sports Registrar.
Quoting Article 14 of the Aiba Statutes, Virgets said that the election and appointment processes adopted by their affiliates must be approved by Aiba and each National Federation must prevent any and all external interference in its election and appointment processes.
Virgets noted that Aiba may send an observer to the election at the discretion of the President or at the request of the National Federation in which case the National Federation shall pay the costs and expenses of the observer.
