Bhavesh Gohil: This is my plan for reviving cricket in Kenya

All the 57 delegates who were cleared by the Independent Elections Panel (IEP) turned out for the exercise.

“I have been given a car which is not working and it needs a complete overhaul. But I have the diagnostic tools, the skills and the manpower to repair this car. Cricket Kenya, we are moving ahead,” Gohil said in his acceptance speech on Sunday moments after being elected to office.

“We conduct a forensic audit of the (CK) accounts to establish whether there has been any malpractice. In case any money has been lost, we will ensure those responsible are brought to account,” Gohil, who has been in charge of cricket teams at Nairobi Gymkhana, said.

He will serve for a four-year term, which is renewable for an additional term through the polls. Gohil takes over from Manoj Patel who sought not to defend his seat.

The elective AGM proceeded as planned after High Court Judge Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili on Friday evening set aside a conservatory order that she had issued on Tuesday stopping the exercise from taking place. The petition had been filed by former Kenya international David Obuya and cricket enthusiast Juliana Kathure.

Lawyer and former national women’s cricket team captain Pearlyne Omamo was elected the new CK vice chairperson unopposed as she was the only candidate cleared for the position by the IEP.

Former Kenyan international, Alfred Njuguna, clinched the treasurer’s position while Damian Omonywa was elected the Director of County Associations seat. Cricket administrator Charity Wambui was voted in as the new Director of Women’s Cricket.

Just like Gohil, the four officials will serve a four-year term, which is renewable for an additional term through the polls.

Njuguna garnered 40 votes, flooring Chidambaran Subramanian, who got 17 votes, while Omonywa won with 37 votes against Vidya Chandrasekhar’s 17. Wambui triumphed with 31 votes, flooring Sarah Kemunto who managed 24 votes.

Corruption allegations have on several occasions rocked CK, with fingers pointing to former chairman Manoj Patel, CK’s director of county association Kennedy Obuya, and treasurer Kalpesh Solanki, among others.

In September 2025, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) summoned Manoj and Obuya to record statements over alleged misappropriation of Sh26 million belonging to the federation.

On August 28, 2024, CK’s board also suspended Solanki over allegations that he had paid himself Sh2 million in allowances for “Jersey tournament” without approval from the board. In addition, it was also alleged that he made a further payment to Kuben Pillay about Sh900,000 to incentivise him, leading to his suspension by International Cricket Council.

Apart from holding those responsible for misuse of CK’s funds to account, Gohil said that his other main goal in the first 100 days in office are creating harmony members of the local among cricket stakeholders, improving player and coaches’ welfare by establishing a structured salary framework, enhancing sponsorship and resource mobilisation drive, launching the establishment of a high performance training centre in the country, initiating national grassroots programmes in collaboration with schools and clubs and streamlining governance in the federation.

The rest are rebuilding relationships with international partners including the International Cricket Council (ICC) to restore Kenya’s position in global cricket, introducing regular communication channels including updates and reports to stakeholders to ensure openness and accountability in all cricket operations.

During the launch of Gohil’s manifesto on April 15, 2026, Kenya men’s team coach, Joseph Angara, said the coaches are owed nine months of unpaid salary, a situation which has made it difficult for the team to train adequately as players have been forced to take up menial jobs to earn a living.

“I will implement a clear and reliable player payment structure, ensuring that contracts, salaries and allowances are well defined and honoured on time. Players must feel valued and secure,” he promised.

He said his candidature was driven by “lack of proper governance and accountability at Cricket Kenya”, and noted that the infrastructure to grow the game is already in place.

In failing to streamline its governance, CK has remained under controlled funding since July 2023.

In March, ICC declared CK non-compliant with its membership guidelines and halted funding the federation for six months.

ICC further warned that Kenya’s membership in the global governing body would be suspended or terminated should the federation fail to address areas of non-compliance. Gohil promised to get Kenya out of ICC funding within a year.

“The first six months, I want to make sure that the house is in order. Clean up and do the laundry. After doing that, within a year we should be off it,” said the cricket administrator.

He stated that he will ride on his business network to secure sponsorship for the game locally so as to avoid overreliance on ICC funding.

“I have spoken to quite a few corporations to sponsor us, and the common question they have been asking me is ‘who is there on top?’ They have said that if I am there, they are ready to come on board, “said Gohil.

What is his plan for Kenya’s return to the big league of cricket nations?

“That is my vision. To take Kenya back to the global arena, and that is my promise,” he stated.

Kenya boasts five appearances at the ICC World Cup; four in the One Day Internationals (ODI) - 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2011, and one in the T20 version (2007).