Jackson Tuwei was yesterday confirmed Athletics Kenya President during the association’s Annual General Meeting held at Riadha House yesterday.
Tuwei was appointed interim president in December last year after the suspension of former President Isaiah Kiplagat by the world governing body IAAF in November following allegations of graft cases against him.
Jinaro Kibet position as vice chairman was also confirmed by the AGM. Kibet has been the federation’s legal officer since 2011. The AGM also passed the new constitution in line with the country’s constitution and in accordance with the Sports Act of 2013. AK will now hold their elections next year.
The meeting also abolished the position of Chief Executive officer, previously held by Isaac Mwangi, who was suspended in February for six months by the IAAF pending investigations into allegations that he solicited for bribes from drug cheats Francisca Koki and Joyce Sakari. The position of CEO will revert to Secretary General.
Delegates asked the government to speed up preparations for the 2017 World Youth Championships which Kenya will be hosting. They described the pace as slow and warned that the country risks losing the rights to host the event. AK Western regional chairman Francis Afundi noted that time was running out for the country to host the event. The delegates also welcomed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s role in fast tracking the Anti Doping Bill.
Meanwhile, retired and active athletes from North Rift region through their lawyer have blocked Athletics Kenya constitution amendments, citing lack of stakeholders participation.
Athletics Kenya were yesterday set to endorse the amendments in its constitution during an Annual General Meeting at Riadha House. The former top athletes through Kevin and Associates, have written to the Sports Minister Hassan Wario, Registrar of Sports and AK, opposing the amendments to the constitution. The athletes want the final printing and submission of the amended AK constitution to the Registrar of Sports halted to allow exhaustive public and stakeholders participation.
“Our clients have noted with considerable interest that whereas the amendment of the AK constitution is a noble idea, whose time is long overdue, the current process to amend the constitution has been conducted in an opaque and incognito manner,” read the letter from the advocate.
According to the athletes, the institutional stability can only be secured in the context of a well-founded and all-inclusive constitutional framework that is in tandem with the views of the stakeholders. “The speed and clouded manner under which the amendment has been subjected to, leaves the entire administration of AK in private and vulnerable for manipulation.
“In light of the stated position, the process should stop and a proper mechanism put in place to ensure collection of public and stakeholder participation. The process of amending the constitution is biased, lacks inclusivity and will not reflect the true status of the public,” the letter stated.
If no action will not be taken within the 14 days, the group will register a dispute with the tribunal or seek appropriate order to freeze operationalisation of a constitution until the stakeholders are involved.
Moses Tanui, Leah Malot, John Kelai, Hosea Kogo, Susan Sirma, Abraham Chelang’a, Titus Munji, Christopher Kosgei, Jacob Yator, Julius Korir and Chebichii Yator are among the athltes who have opposed the move.