Sports Dispute Tribunal halts NOC-K elections
From left: (NOC-K) President Paul Tergat, IEBC County Elections Manager Albert Gogo and IEBC Westlands Constituency Senior Elections Officer Muthee Gakuru engage during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Nairobi on April 22, 2025.
What you need to know:
- The acting SDT chairperson Njeri Onyango issued the directive on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, pending the determination of a case filed by 14 federations challenging the eligibility of some delegates from a rival camp.
- The decision came just minutes after another SDT panel dismissed a separate case filed by a member from the same 14 federations seeking clarification on the NOC-K Constitution and the 2025 Elections Rules and Regulations.
The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) faces turbulent times after eight years of relative calm following a Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) order halting its elections scheduled for Thursday in Nairobi.
The acting SDT chairperson Njeri Onyango issued the directive on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, pending the determination of a case filed by 14 federations challenging the eligibility of some delegates from a rival camp.
The decision came just minutes after another SDT panel dismissed a separate case filed by a member from the same 14 federations seeking clarification on the NOC-K Constitution and the 2025 Elections Rules and Regulations.
Kenya Taekwondo Federation (KTF) chairman Suleiman Sumba had petitioned the SDT to interpret the current NOC-K Constitution in relation to the election guidelines.
Meanwhile, Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) chairman Andrew Mudibo had written to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), seeking the disqualification of four candidates for allegedly flouting nomination rules.
However, returning officer Muthee Gakuru from IEBC informed Mudibo that all matters had been referred to SDT as of April 22, 2025, pending a verdict.
In the case filed by Sumba against the IEBC returning officer, NOC-K, KTF secretary general George Wesonga, Kenya Triathlon Federation, and Moses Mbuthia, the SDT panel chaired by Bernard Murunga and members Allan Mola and Gichuru Kiplagat dismissed the application, allowing the elections to proceed.
But Onyango, in a separate urgent order, certified the fresh case filed by the 14 federations against the IEBC and NOC-K as urgent and suspended the elections. The case will be heard on Thursday at 8 am. The NOC-K AGM at Pride Inn Hotel will proceed minus the election agenda.
The federations behind the stoppage include Kenya Fencing Federation, KTTA, Kenya Volleyball Federation, Kenya Handball Federation, Kenya Rowing and Canoe Federation, Kenya Triathlon Federation, Kenya Rugby Union, Kenya Baseball Federation, KTF, Kenya Judo Federation, Kenya Hockey Union, Softball Federation of Kenya, Kenya Cycling Federation, and Athletics Kenya.
Mudibo, who is vying for the secretary general post, wanted four candidates—current NOC-K secretary general Francis Mutuku, outgoing treasurer Anthony Kariuki, outgoing deputy treasurer John Ogola, and Kenya Volleyball Federation Beach Volleyball Commission chairman Moses Mbuthia—disqualified for breaching eligibility rules under clause 17.3 of the NOC-K Constitution.
He claimed Mutuku, contesting for the NOC-K presidency against Shadracj Maluki, was proposed by Tennis Kenya president James Kenani and seconded by Boxing Federation of Kenya secretary general David Munuhe, who is allegedly not a voting delegate.
Mudibo also argued Kariuki, seeking the second deputy president role, was seconded by Lucas Onyango of the Kenya Amateur Weightlifting Association, who is also allegedly not a voting delegate.
He further alleged that Mbuthia, running for treasurer, was seconded by George Wasonga of the Kenya Taekwondo Federation, contrary to NOC-K rules since Wasonga is not a voting delegate.
On Ogola, Mudibo stated that his proposer, Pius Ochieng, was not an official of the Kenya Amateur Weightlifting Association.
However, Muthee clarified that Ogola was proposed by Lucas Onyango, not Pius Ochieng, and explained that Mutuku and Kariuki's seconding voting delegates were yet to be officially confirmed.
"The voting delegates list was still being generated, and voters' status could change anytime, which doesn't necessarily disqualify candidates," said Muthee.
On Mbuthia, Muthee added that they were awaiting a decision from the SDT.
Following the dismissal of the initial case and the subsequent escalation by the aggrieved parties, Onyango's orders effectively halted the elections.
According to Section 17.4 of the NOC-K Constitution, nominations must be signed by the president and/or secretary general of the voting member federation/association.
The 2025 Elections Rules and Regulations further stipulate in Articles 5.2, 13.1, 14.6, and 17.12 that each federation/association shall be represented by two delegates, with the voting delegate being either the president or secretary general.
The regulations required delegate names to be submitted to the NOC-K secretary general by 5 p.m. on or before April 10, 2025. An official letter signed by both the president and secretary general, along with minutes of the relevant resolutions, was mandatory.
However, a loophole remains since neither the Constitution nor the election rules specify clearly who between the president and secretary general should carry the voting right—leading to manipulation where leadership wrangles exist within federations.