After months of uncertainty and a postponed April showdown, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) is finally headed to the ballot box this Thursday, provided lingering federation disputes don’t derail the process once again.
Last week, the NOCK executive confirmed that the long-awaited elections will proceed as planned on Thursday. "The executive board convened to reaffirm its commitment to a smooth and transparent transition ahead of the NOCK electoral congress," NOCK shared in a statement.
The national body further reaffirmed its commitment to a smooth transition, assuring that ongoing Olympic programmes remain unaffected. "Anchored in good governance and strong systems, NOCK remains focused, ensuring zero disruption to ongoing programmes." The elections were originally set for April 24 but were dramatically shelved after four federations became embroiled in leadership disputes.
Triathlon, handball, volleyball and taekwondo failed to resolve internal wrangles over who held the legitimate voting mandate between their respective Presidents and Secretaries General.
Owing to the disputes, the NOCK executive committee decided to call off the elections to seek legal opinion as the federations settled their internal disputes. “For the harmony of sport, we adjourned the assembly to seek legal counsel and give federations time to sort their internal issues,” Secretary General Francis Mutuku said at the time.
"We are, however, clear that the elections must be held soon so that we can start preparing our teams for internal engagement," he added.
The race for the top seat is expected to pit NOCK's first vice president, Shadrack Maluki, against Mutuku. However, fresh developments since the postponement could shake up the voting blocs.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) president Sasha Mutai, a key Maluki ally, resigned in May. In his place, the KRU board unanimously installed Harriet Okach.
Her allegiance heading into Thursday’s vote remains unclear and could be a swing factor. Similarly, Kenya Sports Shooting Federation President Mohamed Shoaib Vayani, previously aligned with Mutuku, also stepped down. His replacement and vote remain unknown, further clouding the waters.
The Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) suffered a major blow with the death of President Paul Otula, another Mutuku supporter. His voting powers are now expected to fall to Secretary General Angela Luchivya.
Compounding the uncertainty is a festering standoff at the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF), where President Charles Nyaberi’s voting mandate is being challenged by beach volleyball chair Moses Mbuthia. With the federation yet to settle the matter, KVF risks being the latest to plunge the process into disarray.
