Rachier's 17-year unbeaten run as Gor Mahia chairman continues
Gor Mahia FC chairman Ambrose Rachier casts his vote during the club's elections for new office bearers at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on April 13, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Gor’s Annual General Meeting, which was meant to culminate into the club’s elections, did not take place as planned.
- Sally Bolo was elected the club’s new vice chairman with 610 votes, defeating Victor Omondi who bagged 506 votes.
Veteran sports administrator and senior counsel, Ambrose Rachier, has been re-elected as Gor Mahia chairman for a fifth consecutive term.
In the elections conducted on Sunday by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) at Nyayo National Stadium Basketball Gymnasium, Rachier, who has been at the helm of the club since 2008, triumphed with 658 votes.
His only competitor in the race Dolfina Odhiambo garnered 456 votes.
Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier (left) congratulates newly elected vice chairperson Sally Bollo during the club elections at Nyayo Stadium Gymnasium on April 13, 2025.
Sally Bolo was elected the club’s new vice chairperson with 610 votes, defeating Victor Omondi who bagged 506 votes.
Katani Secondary School Principal Nicanor Arum was elected the club’s new secretary general with 582 votes ahead of the incumbent, Sam Ochola, who secured 501 votes.
Arum’s win sparked wild celebration among the club’s fans, who had pitched camp outside the gymnasium. Gerphas Ogolla was elected honorary treasurer with 559 votes, defeating Philip Nyakwana who got 524 votes.
Gor Mahia FC chairman Ambrose Rachier (right), with his daughter Aoko Rachier and Gerphas Okuku after casting their vote during the club's elections at Nyayo National Stadium on April 13th 2025.
Gor’s previous Constitution had no term limits, allowing the office holders to run for more than two terms.
Since the club’s 2019 Constitution stipulates that one can only serve two four-year terms upon re-election, this will be Rachier’s final term at the helm of the club.
The club’s Annual General Meeting, which was meant to culminate into the elections, did not take place as planned.
Newly elected officials of Gor Mahia Football Club display their certificates after the club's elections at Nyayo Stadium Gymnasium on April 13, 2025.
Gor Mahia Election Board led by lawyer Gichu Wahome, conducted the elections. A paltry 1,992 members of the club were eligible to vote. Each of the four positions attracted only two candidates.
Commotion erupted during the voting process forcing police to lob tear gas and fire warning shots in the air to restore calm.
The elections followed a directive issued by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) on January 15, instructing the K’Ogalo fraternity to hold elections within 90 days since the current executive committee had outlived its sell-by date.
Gor’s member Bernard Agewa Omolo had filed the petition.
On April 9, the SDT allowed the polls to proceed as planned but directed that the Gor Mahia Election Board to reduce the nomination fees and extended the deadline for candidates to submit nominations papers to Saturday 1pm.
Aspirants Dolfina Odhiambo, Sally Bolo and Philip Dalmas Nyakwana were the petitions in the matter. In their ruling, the SDT’s panel chairperson Benard Wafula and members Gabriel Ouko and Peter Ochieng’ revised the nomination fees for chairman and vice chairman to Sh150,000 and Sh125,000 respectively.
A member of Gor Mahia Football Club casts her vote during the club's elections at Nyayo Stadium Gymnasium on April 13, 2025.
Aspirants for the Treasurer and Secretary General positions were required to pay a nomination fee of Sh100,000.
A communique by the Election Board on April 1, 2025 had indicated that aspirants in the elections had until April 4 to submit their nomination papers.
Aspirants for the chairperson position were required to pay a non-refundable fee of Sh500,000 while those running for the vice chairperson, secretary general and honorary treasurer positions were required to pay a fee of Sh450,000, Sh400,000 and Sh400,000 respectively.