KRU slammed for unlawful suspension of chairperson Mutai

By , April 29, 2025

Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) has reinstated Alexander Kiplagat Mutai, commonly known as Sasha Mutai as the rightful chairperson of Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), quashing his controversial suspension and accusing the Union’s board of serious constitutional and procedural violations.

Mutai, through his lawyer Stephen Kipkenda, successfully filed an application to the Tribunal challenging the decision to suspend him from his post as chairman.

The ruling, delivered on April 23, 2025, paints a troubling picture of internal wrangles, rushed decisions, and a breakdown of corporate governance within one of the country’s most prominent sports bodies.

At the heart of the dispute was a controversial board meeting held on March 6, 2025, during which Mutai was suspended following a motion of no confidence.

The Tribunal found that the meeting was convened in breach of Article 10.16.2 of the KRU Constitution, which mandates that only the Chair or, in his absence, the Vice Chair can call a board meeting, and only after a proper 14-day notice period following a requisition.

“The notice was issued on March 5, 2025, for a meeting the following day. No persuasive reason was given to justify this blatant disregard of the Constitution,” the Tribunal ruling seen by Citizen Digital stated.

It found the process “procedurally flawed, unduly restrictive, and inadequate,” ultimately rendering the decision to suspend Mutai “illegal, null and void.”

The KRU board had argued that Mutai bypassed internal dispute resolution mechanisms and prematurely took the matter to the Tribunal.

However, the SDT dismissed this objection, noting that the mechanisms in place lacked independence and fairness, especially when the aggrieved party was expected to appeal to the very board that suspended him.

“A man cannot be made judge in his own case,” the Tribunal emphasised, reaffirming that access to justice cannot be curtailed by flawed internal structures.

While the Tribunal reinstated Mutai, it declined to grant a permanent injunction preventing any future motions of no confidence, stating that such a request was against the spirit of democratic governance. However, it didn’t mince words about the board’s conduct.

In a stinging rebuke, the Tribunal criticised KRU’s lack of adherence to proper governance protocols and called on the Sports Registrar to inspect the Union’s books and records.

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