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Benard Wanjala will serve Chess Kenya as president for another four-year term after overwhelmingly being voted in during a Special General Meeting held at the Pride Inn Hotel, Westlands, Nairobi, on Sunday.

Wanjala and his ticket team garnered 109 votes, beating his competitor Judith Mwashe who managed 13 votes while three votes were spoilt.

The delayed election was supposed to be held last year but had to be pushed forward to allow the federation to comply with the Sports Act by adopting a new constitution that is compliant with the Act and form branches countrywide. It also adopted a ticket system that requires all aspiring officials to run under a team and Wanjala’s group triumphed.

In his victory remarks, Wanjala promised to continue growing the sport in the country. “I want Judy and I to join hands to grow the sport, the campaign is over. We had a mature, issue-based campaign and it’s time now to concentrate on what’s important to chess,” Wanjala said.

  Fair and transparent

Mwashe conceded defeat, promising to work with the winning team. “The process of voting was very fair and transparent, I had issues with the initial process leading to this election but I won’t contest the results of this election.”

Wanjala’s team is composed of vice president Andrew Owili, John Mukabi (secretary-general), Aurelia Chumo (deputy secretary-general), Gilbert Wandera (treasurer), Terence Chazima (assistant treasurer), Ivini Magoiga (branch secretary) and Rodah Olise (gender).