Tergat goes unopposed
National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) president Paul Tergat will go into the December 9 elections unopposed.
It will be a repeat of what happened in 2017 when Tergat was the sole candidate for the presidency after then incumbent Kipchoge Keino failed to pick nomination papers.
As per Article 18 of the NOC-K Constitution, elections shall be conducted separately for 13 positions in the Executive Board.
The Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD)-Kenya, which will oversee the polls, is expected to officially release the names of the candidates vying for various posts on Friday after the deadline for submitting nomination papers lapsed on Thursday.
The 13 positions up for grabs are those of president, first deputy president; second deputy president; secretary-general; deputy secretary-general; treasurer; deputy treasurer; male athlete representative; female athlete representative; woman representative and three members.
The elections had earlier been scheduled for November 12, but NOC-K acting secretary-general Francis Mutuku announced a change of plans at the eleventh hour, claiming some of the committee’s Executive Board members had been invited to attend an IOC meeting during the same period.
On November 16, the polls were once again called off for unclear reasons.
The secretary general position will be the most contested seat at the polls, with incumbent FK Paul expected to face Kenya Table Tennis Association president, Andrew Mudibo, and Mutuku who has been in charge of the docket for three years in an acting capacity.
Former holder James Chacha, Kenya Softball chairman Francis Karugu and Mohammed Shoaib have shown interest in the assistant secretary’s position.
The first deputy president’s position has attracted three aspirants including Shadrack Maluki, John Kilonzo, and Nahashon Randiek from Kenya Hockey Union.
“Yes it is true I returned my nomination papers last week before the deadline elapsed. Now just like any applicant, I will be waiting for clearance from election board,” said FK Paul.
The second vice president’s position has incumbent and Kenya Volleyball Federation boss Waithaka Kioni against former world women’s marathon champion Tegla Loroupe.
Incumbent Anthony Kariuki and KVF Nairobi branch official, Moses Mbuthia are set to battle it out for the treasurer’s position while Agnes Oluoch will face John Ogolla of weightlifting for the assistant treasurer’s position.
Paul Otula and Winnie Kamau will be seeking to defend their committee members’ positions.
Boxing Federation of Kenya treasurer Benjamin Musa, Kenya Cycling Federation general secretary, Charles Mose, and Athletics Kenya (AK) official Barnaba Korir will fight for the three-member positions.