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National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 10, 2024, where its election roadmap was discussed with incumbent president, Paul Tergat, set to step down this year. Elections, scheduled for April 24, 2025, will decide who will replace the five-time Cross Country champion as NOC-K president.

Tergat, a two-time Olympic 10,000m silver medallist and former world marathon record holder, will step down after completing two terms in office. He succeeded Kipchoge Keino in 2017 unopposed after the General Assembly barred his sole challenger, Patrick Muya, and was then re-elected as the only nominee in December 2021.

Front-runners to replace Tergat are Shadrack Maluki and Francis Mutuku.

Maluki, Tergat’s current deputy and the president of the Kenya Judo Federation, also served as Kenya’s Chef de Mission at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Mutuku, the incumbent NOC-K secretary general, previously served in various capacities with the Kenya Lawn Tennis Association (KLTA).

Kenya’s Chef de Mission for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, Waithaka Kioni, was initially considered a contender to succeed Tergat but tragically passed away at the age of 70 after a heart attack in 2023.

It is believed that Mutuku has already formed a line-up for the elections, following a meeting held at the PrideInn Hotel in Nairobi three weeks ago. The proposed line-up includes Mutuku as president, current treasurer Anthony Kariuki as second vice-president, John Ogola as secretary general, Shoaib Voyani as treasurer and Winnie Kamau as the women representative.

Veteran sports administrator Paul Otula was initially slated to vie for the first vice-president position, but there is now talk of replacing him with someone from Athletics Kenya, who are yet to be represented in the line-up.

Maluki, on the other hand, is believed to have the backing of the outgoing president, though Tergat has not publicly declared his preferred candidate. Maluki, who has kept his cards close to the chest, also enjoys unwavering support from Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) boss Andrew Mudibo and Barnaba Korir, who is running for the first vice-chairman position.

Kenya topped the medal tally for African nations at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, winning four golds, two silvers, and five bronzes for a total of 11 medals.

As Tergat’s tenure comes to an end, many federation leaders have praised his efforts in rebuilding NOC-K’s image, which was tarnished by disorganisation, poor management and allegations of corruption during the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Tergat has made a huge difference compared to the past administration,” said Charles Mose, Secretary General of the Kenya Cycling Federation.

“As the cycling federation, we have no complaints about the outgoing regime. We have always received the support we asked for. We want people who can fit into the shoes of those leaving and continue the great work that has already been started.”

IOC Athlete Commission representative and former rugby legend Humphrey Kayange will contest a committee member position, along with KTTA chair Andrew Mudibo, who may also run for the secretary general position, alongside Kenya Weightlifting Federation chair John Ogolla.