Kenya: The status quo remained as Kipchoge Keino and team returned to office during National Olympic Committee-Kenya (NOC-K) polls.
Kipchoge Keino
The biggest losers were Alfred Khangati and Athletics Kenya (AK) chairman Isaiah Kiplagat, who failed in their bid to join NOC-K.
Keino retained the position of chairmanship after he collected 21 votes against Khangati’s 10 amid protests that the playing field was not level.
Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) head Ben Ekumbo was elected first vice chairman after he won the seat by landslide victory with 24 votes against Kiplagat’s four.
Pius Ochieng’ of weightlifting got the position of second vice chairman after his sole rival Sam Nyamweya of Football Kenya Limited (FKF) withdrew from the race claiming the exercise was not credible.
Francis Paul was unopposed in the position of secretary general, while James Chacha beat Njeri Onyango 17-14 votes to return as assistant secretary general.
Elynah Shivekah’s bid for the position of treasurer failed after she lost 11-20 against incumbent Fridah Shiroya.
Committee members
Stephen arap Soi retained the post of assistant treasurer following 22-9 victory against John Kameta of boxing.
In the committee members contest, Kenya Hockey Union chairman Resham Bains (22 votes), marathon star Catherine Ndereba (21) and Ann Njambi of badminton (19) were declared winners by virtue of occupying top three places.
Njambi, who was a women representative in the previous office, said: “I decided to contest for committee position just for a change.”
Kenya Lawn Tennis Association chairperson, Paurvi Rawal, beat football administrator Rachel Kamweru 19-12 votes to occupy the seat of women’s representative.
Results encouraging
Kamweru expressed satisfaction over the outcome saying: “The results are encouraging and I look forward to contesting for any other position in future.”
Veteran long distant runner Paul Tergat will represent men athletes after he overcame swimming superstar Jason Dunford 20-9.
Tegla Loroupe, another world renowned long distant runner, was voted in unopposed as athletes’ representative for women.
Various candidates put Keino on notice saying the long-serving NOC-K chairman was bound to leave a bad legacy.
They complained that the statutes that allow incumbents to vote must be repealed to create level playing ground.
“How can you compete against someone who already has 13 votes in the pocket and has own federation to vote for him,” Nyamweya wondered while announcing his withdrawal from the race on the floor of the polls at a Nairobi hotel Wednesday.
Khang’ati echoed Nyamweya’s sentiments and threatened to initiate an official complaint with International Olympic Committee (IOC).
It is widely believed that incumbents vote in as a block and this gives them a numerical advantage against opponents.
By Oscar Pilipili, The Standard
