Cracks have resurfaced in the leadership of Cricket Kenya (CK), with the board passing a unanimous vote of no confidence in chairman Manoj Patel.
In a statement dated July 5, CK’s board said it had passed a vote of no confidence on Manoj, who is now not authorized to conduct any business on behalf of the federation.
In the statement, CK’s board said Manoj is not authorized to conduct activities like representing Kenya at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual Conference on behalf of Kenya.
CK’s board reached the decision at a meeting held on June 17, which Manoj did not attend.
“Further to this vote, Manoj Patel does not represent Cricket Kenya in any position or situation, and any communication should be directed to the Cricket Kenya Office,” the board in a statement signed by all the members, save for Manoj.
“In light of this, Manoj Patel shall not be a Cricket Kenya Delegate to the ICC Annual Conference,” the statement added.
“Any communication from Manoj Patel or to Manoj Patel is in his personal capacity and Cricket Kenya takes no responsibility for any position or decision made by him.”
The statement further indicated that CK’s delegates to the ICC Annual Conference in Singapore will be County Associations Representative and acting Treasurer Kennedy Obuya, and Chief Executive Officer Ronald Bukusi.
Attempts by Nation Sport to reach Manoj for a comment on the board’s decision to pass a vote of no confidence in him and the allegations levelled against him were unsuccessful as his two known mobile phone lines were switched off.
Manoj Patel when he was elected Cricket Kenya Chairman on February 26, 2022.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
The former Kenyan international was overwhelmingly elected chairman of CK for a renewable four-term period on February 26, 2022.
He garnered 51 votes while his only competitors, Chidambaran Subramanian and Tariq Iqbal, got no votes.
Despite the landslide victory, Manoj’s leadership has come into question, with some cricket stakeholders accusing him of failing to deliver on his promises, among them a pledge to ensure Kenya regains its lost glory in the sports. He has also faced allegations of corruption.
Minutes of the board meeting on June 17, when a vote of no confidence in Manoj was unanimously passed, indicate that the motion was moved by Pearlyne Omamo, the Director Women’s Cricket.
While moving the motion, Omamo stated that Manoj “was soiling the CK chairman’s position for personal benefit at the expense of the credibility of the larger organization.”
Omamo further noted that though the vote of no confidence does not remove Manoj from his role as the CK chairman, they needed to take a formal stand as a board to distance themselves from his actions.
Some of the allegations that the board has levelled against the chairman include cutting deals, and failing to attend interviews set by auditors concerning “serious issues raised about CK’s accounts.”
“The meeting resolved that cricket is bigger than the individual and it was important that this be communicated in the strongest terms possible. The CEO will make an informal call to the Africa ICC Manager to appraise him of this development,” said the board.
The decision to pass a vote of no confidence in Manoj comes at a time when CK’s treasurer, Kalpesh Solanki, is fighting in court to be reinstated to the position following his second suspension during the CK Special General Meeting held in May.
Solanki was first suspended in September last year due to alleged financial malpractices. However, the Sports Disputes Tribunal quashed the decision early in May on grounds that it was unconstitutional, irregular and unlawful.
CK’s vice chairman, Maina Kamau, also resigned in May.
At the time, Kamau told Nation Sport that he had stepped down since his hands were full, and not due to alleged financial malpractices as was being claimed by some quarters.
