With less than 36 hours to the hotly contested National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) elections, the Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) has thrown the process into uncertainty after filing a formal complaint seeking the disqualification of four candidates, citing nomination irregularities.

In a 16-page letter addressed to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) returning officer and obtained by this People Sports’ writer, Kenya Table Tennis, through its President Andrew Mudibo, seeking the position of Secretary General under ‘New Dawn’ team, has called for the exclusion of Francis Mutuku, Eliud Antony Kariuki, Moses Mbuthia and John Ogola from the elections scheduled for tomorrow at Pride Inn Hotel, Nairobi.

The petition cites breaches of Clause 17.3 of the NOC-K Constitution which outlines nomination procedures and eligibility requirements.

The clause states that outgoing executive committee members or voting members may only be nominated by their own federations and seconded by a voting delegate from another federation.

According to the complaint, Mutuku (who is seeking NOC-K presidency) was proposed by James Kenani of Tennis Kenya and seconded by David Munuhe of the Boxing Association of Kenya. However, the table tennis board argues that Munuhe is not the official voting delegate, a role held by the boxing association president, Anthony Otieno Ombok.

Kariuki, who is eyeing the 2nd Deputy President post, is said to have proposed himself and been seconded by Lucas Onyango, both from the Kenya Amateur Weightlifting Association. Yet, Onyango is not recognised as a voting delegate; that position belongs to Secretary General John Ogola, who is himself a candidate for Secretary General.

Mbuthia, contesting for Treasurer, was proposed by Charles Nyaberi of the Kenya Volleyball Federation and seconded by George Wasonga of Kenya Taekwondo Federation. However, the petition claims Wasonga is not the voting delegate; the position is held by Taekwondo Federation President Suleiman Sumba.

As for Ogola, the petition states that he was proposed by Pius Ochieng, who holds no executive position (neither president, secretary, nor treasurer) in the Kenya Amateur Weightlifting Association.

A letter from the Registrar of Sports (Ref: SR/AR, dated April 16, 2025) reportedly confirms that the top officials of the federation are Chairman Lucas Onyango, Secretary John Ogola and Treasurer Joseph Arindo.

The nominations in question were made following the release of the official candidates and voting delegates’ list by IEBC, which is overseeing the NOC-K elections under legally stipulated timelines.

The letter has thrown a spanner in the works just days before the elections and it remains to be seen how the returning officer and IEBC will respond to the raised concerns.