National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) holds its elections this morning at the PrideInn Hotel in Nairobi, where 29 voters are expected to select officials to run the body for the next four years. 

Today’s polls are expected to mark a significant leadership transition as five-time World Cross Country champion Paul Tergat is expected to conclude his second and final term as the committee’s president, bringing his transformative eight-year tenure to an end and passing the baton to a new successor. 

The contest for the NOC-K presidency has been narrowed down to two prominent candidates in the shape of current First Vice President Shadrack Maluki and current Secretary General Francis Mutuku, with a total of 25 NOC-K affiliate federations poised to cast their votes. 

Mutuku, who is also Vice President of Tennis Kenya, officially launched his presidential bid at the end of March with a campaign themed “Serve, Innovate, Elevate” and an emphasis on athlete welfare, along with a focus on expanding Olympic representation.  

He has spoken of his aim to increase Kenya’s participation in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games by broadening the range of sports disciplines represented. 

Maluki, on the other hand, is president of the Kenya Judo Federation and chair of the Africa Judo Union, and early this month launched his own bid for the top spot in Kenyan sport under the slogan “New Dawn Fresh NOCK.” 

He served as Team Kenya’s Chef de Mission at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and is perceived as the continuity candidate, having closely worked with Tergat.  

His campaign, which lists three service pillars – transform, empower, and inspire – has received the backing of influential sports administrators, including Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) chair Andrew Mudibo and Athletics Kenya’s Barnaba Korir. 

“Working under the leadership of President Paul Tergat, we have transformed the National Olympic Committee of Kenya into a modern and model sports organisation. During this period, Kenya has registered some of the most remarkable achievements at the Olympics,” said Maluki.”  

“These are the gains I wish to protect and enhance as president over the next four years… A new dawn has come, and I commit to delivering to Kenyans, athletes, and federations a body that will be united as one and to focus its attention on athletes and the Olympic movement.” 

Along with the 25 NOC-K affiliate federations, four special category officials will cast their vote.  

These four are women’s representative Pauvi Rawal, departing chief and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Paul Tergat, and athlete representatives Humphrey Kayange and Hellen Obiri, the first of whom is also a Kenyan IOC member. 

Notably, three federations, Kenya Swimming Federation, Badminton Kenya, and Kenya Golf Union, will not vote due to internal disputes and non-compliance with sports regulations while newly incorporated federations, such as e-sports, ice hockey, break dancing, cricket, lacrosse, and gymnastics, will not participate as their involvement in the election cycle has been deferred until the next general assembly. 

Beyond the presidency, several other positions are contested, including Secretary General, First Vice President and Athletes’ Representative.