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Tennis federation faults eligibility of candidates ahead of NOC-K elections
Kenya Table Tennis Association President Andrew Mudibo.
Some candidates risk being disqualified from the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) elections after questions were raised about their eligibility.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will conduct the NOC-K elections on Thursday during the Kenyan Olympic body's annual general meeting in Nairobi. But a day before the exercise, one of NOC-K's member federations has petitioned the IEBC to disqualify four candidates for failing to meet eligibility rules.
On Tuesday, the IEBC will release the final list of candidates for the elections.
In a letter addressed to the IEBC Returning Officer for the elections and copied to the Sports Registrar, the Kenya Table Tennis Federation (KTTF) has requested that four candidates be disqualified from the exercise for failing to comply with the eligibility rules, particularly clause 17.3 of the NOC-K constitution.
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In a letter to the IEBC, KTTF president Andrew Mudibo, who is vying for the position of secretary general in the NOC-K elections, wants the electoral body to bar 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 for failing to meet the eligibility rules.
"Clause 17.3 of the NOC-K constitution (page 21) states that 'Subject to any other eligibility conditions mentioned in this constitution, all voting members of the committee and all outgoing members of the executive shall be eligible for nomination for election to the executive provided that they are nominated by their own federation and seconded by a voting delegate of a member federation/association (other than that of the proposer nominating the candidate)'," Mudibo's letter reads in part.
Mudibo argues that Mutuku, who is seeking NOC-K’s presidency in the elections, has been proposed by Tennis Kenya President James Kenani and seconded by Boxing Federation of Kenya Secretary General David Munuhe, who is, however, not a voting delegate of his own federation.
He also argues that Kariuki, who is seeking the position of second deputy president in NOC-K elections, has been seconded by Lucas Onyango of the Kenya Amateur Weightlifting Association, who, however, is not a voting delegate of his federation.
Mudibo also points out that Mbuthia, who is seeking the position of treasurer in the elections, has been seconded by George Wasonga of the Kenya Taekwondo Federation contrary to NOC-K Constitution, as Wasonga is not a voting delegate of his federation.
In the letter, Mudibo also points out that Ogola, who is seeking the position of secretary general in NOC-K elections, has been proposed by a Mr Pius Ochieng, who is not an official of the Kenya Amateur Weightlifting Association.
“We look forward to the IEBC looking into the above issues and informing the above candidates of the invalidation of their candidature,” Mudibo said.
On Wednesday, IEBC will make public the final list of candidates for the NOC-K elections planned for Thursday.
Last week has witnessed a flurry of activity and intense campaigns, with rival camps led by the outgoing first vice president, Shadrack Maluki, on one hand, and the outgoing secretary general, Francis Mutuku, on the other, going all out to woo delegates to their respective sides.
The camps have traversed events hosted by federations, trying to sell their vision, as respective candidates also used their social media platforms to whip up support.
Both camps have accused each other of using dirty tricks.
The accusations include the use of money to entice delegates, something Nation Sports couldn’t independently verify.
The IEBC has its work cut out for it in terms of making tough decisions ahead of NOC-K’s Elective congress will take place on Thursday.
A major cause of confusion has arisen as to which document between the electoral regulations contained in the NOC-K Constitution and the 2025 Elections Rules and Regulations, will guide the Elective Congress in clearing candidates for the election.
According to the 2025 Elections Rules and Regulations, part 5.2 Section 13.1, Section 14.6, and Section 17.12, each federation/association shall be represented by two (2) delegates, one of whom must be either the President or Secretary General and who shall hold the voting right for the Federation/Association.
The rules state that names of the delegates must have been submitted to NOC-K Secretary General by 5 pm on or before April 10, 2025 (at least fourteen (14) days before Congress).
The rules explained that the official letter of appointment of delegates must be signed by the Federation’s President and Secretary General, clearly designating the delegate with voting rights, along with an extract of the minutes containing resolutions to that effect.
But section 17.4 of NOC-K’s constitution states that nominations made by any voting member federation/ association will be valid only if signed by the president and/or the secretary general of the voting member federation/ association.
With both the NOC-K Constitution and the 2025 Elections Rules and Regulations 2025 sending conflicting messages as to who should carry a federation’s vote between the president and secretary general, various camps lack clear guidance.
It’s left to be seen whether the IEBC will strike out the federations that have not agreed on who between the chairman and secretary general will carry the vote or whether it will leave it to the NOC-K Electoral Congress to decide.
