NOCK heads to ballot after court hurdles
By Webster Nyandika, July 21, 2025The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) is finally expected to hold its elections this morning at Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi, where stakes will be high as the body seeks to elect officials to run the committee for the next four years.
This year’s exercise has been marred by several court cases that saw the polls abort twice, but after the intervention of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Kenyan Parliament, the exercise now seems set to take place.
The postponements were caused by internal disputes among federations regarding the legitimacy of their voters, but the High Court in Eldoret ruled that federation presidents are the ones eligible to vote at the polls, or have the power to delegate the task in case they are unable to vote.
Thirteen positions are at stake, and the process will be overseen by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The 13 positions in contention include those of president, first and second vice-president, secretary general, deputy secretary, treasurer, deputy treasurer, three executive committee members, one female representative and two athlete representatives.
The current president, Paul Tergat, will not seek re-election after completing the maximum of two permitted terms.
Among the candidates are Francis Mutuku and Shadrack Maluki, the current secretary general and first vice-president, respectively, who will compete for the presidency.
Barnaba Korir and Anthony Ombok will contest the first vice-presidency, while Andrew Mudibo and John Ogola will vie for the secretary-general post.
The IOC, which considered the postponement “very regrettable” due to “last-minute internal disputes”, urged that any conflict be resolved within the General Assembly, “the highest decision-making body” according to Article 33 of the NOCK constitution.
“We trust that all NOCK members and all stakeholders will act responsibly and in good faith, in accordance with the constitution and the Olympic Charter,” said the IOC.
The two main contenders to succeed Tergat represent different visions for the future of the committee.
Mutuku has been campaigning on a platform of innovation, transparency, and athlete-centred governance, while Maluki, who served as Kenya’s Chef de Mission at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, has positioned himself as part of a reformist bloc seeking a fresh start.