Manoj Patel (right) receives his election certificate from chairman of Cricket Kenya's electoral panel Ken Mutuma on February 26, 2022 after he was elected chairman of the local cricket federation at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
After a turbulent year marked by bitter boardroom wrangles within Cricket Kenya (CK), and underwhelming performances by the national teams, all eyes are on the upcoming February elections to chart a new direction for the sport in the country.
Although the exact date for the election has yet to be set, the elections present an important window for stakeholders to press the reset button and rebuild. The seats that will be up for grabs are those of Cricket Kenya chairman, vice chairman, treasurer, director of women’s cricket, and county associations representative.
Manoj Patel casts his vote during Cricket Kenya elections at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on February 26, 2022.
Embattled CK chairman Manoj Patel, Director Women’s Cricket Pearlyne Omamo, and County Association Representative Kennedy Obuya, who also serves as the acting treasurer at the federation, are all eligible for a second four-year term as per the 2021 CK Constitution.
Former national team player Alfred Njuguna and the Nakuru County Cricket Association Secretary General Charity Wambui have warned that unless delegates make sound decisions at the ballot, Kenya’s cricket will plunge further into the abyss.
“If we miss (to choose wisely in the upcoming elections) we will live to regret it. We have wasted four years, and this is another opportunity to put things in the right direction,” Njuguna, who also serves as the chairman of CK Selection Committee, said. Wambui stated, “It will not just be an election for us but a big milestone. It will determine whether we remain in the system of the International Cricket Council (ICC), or be kicked-out.”
Allegations of corruption
Manoj, 44, was overwhelmingly elected the CK chairman on February 26, 2022, but his leadership has come into question, with some cricket stakeholders accusing him of failing to deliver on his promises, which include ensuring Kenya regains its lost glory in the sport.
Kenya boasts five ICC World Cup appearances; four of those in One Day International (ODI) - 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2011, and once in T20 (2007). However, from a high of reaching the semi-finals of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup in the longer version of the game, Kenya’s cricket has witnessed a steady decline, amid leadership wrangles and mismanagement by CK.
Manoj has also faced allegations of corruption.
The businessman and ex-cricketer rose to the top seat in Kenya’s cricket after garnering 51 votes, while his competitors Chidambaran Subramanian, and Tariq Iqbal got no votes. While there had been reports of cracks in the CK board this year, the first major split was laid bare on June 17 when the board unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in Manoj. The minutes of the meeting indicate that Manoj faced many accusations, including that of soiling the CK chairman’s position, cutting deals and failing to attend interviews set by auditors regarding CK’s finances. The vote of no confidence, however, did not remove Manoj from his role as CK chairman.
Cricket Kenya (CK) board member Pauline Njeru and CEO Ronald Bukusi speak to the press at Ruaraka Sports Club in Nairobi on September 11, 2025.
The second, and more consequential split in the CK board resulted from the Sh255 million, five-year deal that the federation signed with a Dubai-based sports promotion company Arena of Sports (AOS), in April. Under the agreement, a high-profile Twenty20 League was supposed to be held in Kenya later in the year, with selected cricket players from Test-playing nations taking part.
Trouble started in August when Manoj, and Obuya insisted on the tournament proceeding as planned. Seven members opposed it on the grounds that it had not been approved by the ICC. The seven board members who opposed the tournament from happening as scheduled are CK Chief Executive Ronald Bukusi, Omamo, Development Director Thomas Odoyo and members Tariq Iqbal, Mary Maina, Beryl Oyugi, and Pauline Njeru.
The divisions escalated with Manoj, on recommendation by some 32 county officials calling themselves “CK Supreme Council”, sent letters to both Bukusi, and Odoyo, informing them that they had been sent on compulsory leave pending investigations into their alleged gross-misconduct. Bukusi and Odoyo stayed put on the grounds that the move by Manoj was illegal.
The Manoj-led faction of the CK board went on to appoint Walter Mukinginyi Trenk as interim CEO, and 11 board members. But Trenk and the 11 appointed board members have not been able to transact any business on behalf of CK. By a majority decision, the Bukusi-led faction, on September 11, announced the termination of the contract with AOS, citing multiple irregularities, including governance breaches and bribery attempts.
The seven board members also passed a vote of no confidence in Obuya.
Trouble mounted for Manoj, and Obuya when the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) summoned them over the alleged theft of Sh26 million belonging to CK. The matter is still under investigation.
In October, the Sports Disputes Tribunal also barred Manoj, and Obuya from transacting any business on behalf of the federation until a case filed against them is heard and determined. Not even the intervention by the government and the ICC in October managed to quell the division.
Njuguna says the delegates should not vote for a candidate on the basis of their being former cricketers, arguing that the former players have failed to steer the sport in the right direction.
“We former cricketers feel entitled to get into administration. We think that those who have not played cricket are not capable, but we have made the worst administrators. People with questionable characters should not be elected to office,” Njuguna stated.
Wambui echoed similar sentiments: “One thing people need to realise is that sports have evolved. It is time even for us as cricketers to embrace change and realise that just because you played the game does not guarantee that you can make a good leader. As delegates, we need to look forward to somebody who has the interest of the game at heart and somebody who is coming on board to develop the game and not necessarily take what the game is offering.”
On the field, it was yet another year in which Kenya’s dismal performances continued. Kenya missed a ticket to the 2026 ICC U19 Men’s 50 Overs World Cup after finishing a disappointing third with six points in the Africa Division One qualifiers held in late March and early April in Lagos, Nigeria.
Test nation
Underdogs Tanzania qualified for the World Cup after finishing top of the six-team tournament with 10 points. Kenya’s last appearance in Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup was in 2018 in New Zealand, where they failed to make it past the group stage.
A similar predicament befell the men’s senior team in the qualifiers of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Kenya missed a ticket to the global championships after losing by seven wickets to Test nation and hosts Zimbabwe in the semi-final of the Africa qualifier held in September at Harare Sports Club. Both Zimbabwe and Namibia qualified for the World Cup by virtue of reaching the final of the Africa qualifier.
Earlier in August at the 2025 Cricket World Cup Challenge League “A” held in Jersey, Kenya performed dismally, failing to secure a single win in five matches. After losing to Jersey by seven wickets, Kenya fell to Qatar by eight wickets. Their next two matches against Papua New Guinea and Kuwait were cancelled due to rain. Kenya lost the final match against Denmark by 188 runs.
The team had had poor and haphazard preparations for the tournament due to a lack of funds. With that performance, Kenya sits second-last in the six-team competition with six points, just two above bottom-placed Qatar. Jersey lead with 17 points, followed by Kuwait on 14. The third leg of the Cricket World Cup Challenge League “A” will take place next year in Qatar. The top two teams will progress to the Division One round of the World Cup qualifiers.
In women’s cricket, Kenya’s senior team finished bottom of Group “B” in the African qualifiers of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. Kenya lost all its group matches in August in Namibia. After losing by six wickets to Rwanda, Kenya fell to Tanzania and Uganda by 30 runs and eight wickets respectively.
Wambui warns that Kenya’s fortunes will not change until the running of CK is in the right hands.
“We have to put in the work by ensuring coaches and players are paid on time. The players also need to be kept in the game. That is only possible once our house is in order. There is no two ways about it,” she said.
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