The Kenya Golf Federation (KGF) has directed the management of the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) and the Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) to comply with a recent High Court ruling and the provisions of the Sports Act to ensure the harmonious administration and promotion of golf in the country.
The High Court found that both KGU and KLGU are not registered sports bodies under the Sports Act, meaning they lack the legal mandate to manage golf on behalf of clubs and golfers.
The directive by the federation follows a KGF board meeting held at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club on Tuesday.
In a joint statement signed by KGF President Philip Ochola and Secretary Chris Kinuthia, the federation addressed golfers, clubs, sponsors, and stakeholders regarding the emerging governance and legal frameworks shaping the sport.
“The Board recognises the importance of this judgment in clarifying the legal and regulatory framework governing the game of golf in Kenya,” the statement said.
It added: “The Board is equally conscious of the need to safeguard the stability of the game, protect the interests of golfers and clubs, and ensure the development of golf continues without interruptions.”
The federation acknowledged the court’s finding that the unions lack the legal mandate to operate independently or represent golf clubs and players.
Ochola confirmed that the KGF board has resolved to engage the Registrar of Sports immediately to fulfill all conditions required for the federation to attain full registration.
The High Court ruling has also prompted a shift in how the sport’s constitution will be updated. Because both KGU and KLGU were declared unlawful sports organisations, the federation said the existing joint constitutional review mechanisms—which it claims have been frustrated by both unions since 2022—are no longer viable.
Ochola said a Joint Constitutional Review Committee was established last year with representatives from KGF, KGU, KLGU, and the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK). However, due to a failure by KGU and KLGU to submit their corporate views, the committee has not met since February this year, leading to its collapse.
To move forward, the KGF said it is committed to initiating an all-inclusive constitutional review process that will engage golf clubs and players directly through a referendum.
The board will also work with the Registrar of Sports to help golf clubs register and comply with the Sports Act seamlessly.
Ochola pointed out that club registration is a legal government requirement and will not interfere with the internal corporate structures, management, or elections of individual clubs.
To ease the transition, the KGF plans to simplify the affiliation process for golf clubs and introduce more affordable fees.
The federation noted that moving to a single, centralised secretariat and administrative structure will significantly reduce operational costs, allowing for lower subscription rates.
The KGF also assured stakeholders that it will provide a supportive environment for clubs to conclude their remaining calendar events by working closely with tournament organizers and corporate sponsors.
Furthermore, the board affirmed that as the national body mandated to run the sport, it will formalise its engagements with international partners—including the International Golf Federation (IGF), the Africa Golf Confederation (AGC), the Royal and Ancient (R&A), and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK)—to preserve existing international arrangements and guarantee uninterrupted continuity for Kenyan golf.
When contacted for a comment, KGU Secretary General Peter Mwaura said that the other Kenyan golf bodies are working to amalgamate into one entity in line with the Sports Act, following a series of court and administrative decisions. “The main thing is that the bodies have to sit down and agree on the way forward for golf,’ said Mwaura.
