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Government, ICC step in to resolve Cricket Kenya wrangles
Kenya batsman Lucas Ndandason celebrates a wicket against Papua New Guinea during their ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League 'A' match at Nairobi Gymkhana on October 5, 2024.
What you need to know:
- A board member said that the world cricket governing body had raised concerns over the persistent fighting within the Kenyan body.
- Sources from both the Ministry, and CK confirmed to Nation Sport that the nine CK board members had been invited for Tuesday's meeting.
The Ministry of Sport will meet the feuding the Cricket Board (CK) members on Tuesday in an effort to resolve their differences that threaten to plunge the sport into deeper crisis.
The meeting will be followed by another session involving the Ministry, and International Cricket Council (ICC) officials over the same issue.
On Thursday last week, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said that his office had stepped in to solve the wrangles that have seen two factions emerge in CK, all claiming legitimacy to govern the game in the country.
“We can’t allow a situation where we have good players, good talents and then some people are holding the entire talent inspiration at ransom,” said Mvurya last week.
Reports indicate that ICC has already raised concerns over the wrangles.
A board member said that the world cricket governing body had raised concerns over the persistent fighting within the Kenyan body.
On Monday, sources from both the Ministry, and CK confirmed to Nation Sport that the nine CK board members had been invited for Tuesday's meeting.
Manoj Patel casts his vote during Cricket Kenya elections at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on February 26, 2022.
The board members are CK chairman Manoj Patel, Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Bukusi, Counties Representative and Acting Treasurer Kennedy Obuya, Director Women’s Cricket Pearlyne Omamo, Development Director Thomas Odoyo, Mary Maina, Beryl Oyugi, Pauline Njeri and Tariq Iqbal.
ICC Africa Regional Development Manager Justine Ligyalingi is expected to lead the delegation from the world cricket body.
The CK board has since August been rocked by divisions, with seven members, namely, Bukusi, Omamo, Odoyo, Maina, Oyugi, Njeri and Tariq on one side, and Monaj and Obuya on the other side.
The fallout was accelerated by a high-profile Twenty20 League that was to be held in country and organised by Dubai-based sports promotion company AOS Sports Tournament.
Sent on compulsory leave
CK, and AOS signed a five-year agreement worth Sh255 million in April for the tournament that was to be graced by selected players from Test nations.
While Manoj, and Obuya have been pushing to for the tournament to start in November as scheduled, the other seven members have opposed the plan on grounds that ICC is yet to approve it.
There have also been questions about the character of those behind it.
On September 11, the majority of the CK board members announced the termination of the contract with AOS, citing multiple irregularities including governance breaches and bribery attempts.
This came barely a day after Manoj and Obuya, together with some 32 county officials calling themselves the “CK Supreme Council” approved the tournament. On recommendation by the county officials, that same evening, Manoj sent letters to Bukusi and Odoyo informing them that they had been sent on compulsory leave pending investigations into their alleged gross misconduct.
While Bukusi and Odoyo have stayed put, saying there is no entity known as “Supreme Council”, the Manoj-led faction has gone ahead and appointed Walter Trenk as interim CEO and 11 board members. Both boards have insisted they are the legitimate CK body.
However, the Bukusi-led board members have continued to run CK’s activities while Trenk and his team have yet to set foot at the federation’s offices at Ruaraka Sports Club.
On June 17, the CK board members including Obuya unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in Manoj over corruption allegations and other irregularities.
On September 26, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations summoned both Manoj and Obuya over alleged theft of Sh26 million belonging to CK.
According to the summon letters seen by Nation Sport, Obuya was to appear on October 2 at 10 am while Manoj was directed to appear the following day at the same time.
The investigation stems from an audit report released by the CK’s Finance Committee in May. Last week, Mvurya reiterated that the government will not tolerate financial mismanagement in any federation.
