The Kenya Rugby Union went to the polls at the RFUEA ground on Wednesday last week to usher in a new office.
This followed the withdrawal of a High Court order obtained by the Registrar of Sports Rose Wasike the previous week, challenging the Sports Dispute Tribunal ruling of February 14, which nullified part of the KRU elections held in September last year.
The polls were a stitch in time given a power vacuum would have forced the Ministry of Sports into a tight corner, effectively resulting in the constitution of an interim committee.
Such a move could have handed all the country's national teams an indefinite ban from both the world and continental governing bodies.
The suspensions would have locked out the national teams, Shujaa, Simbas, Chipu and Lionesses from international competitions.
We are glad that the elections have ultimately taken place and, hopefully, the new team led by chairman Sasha Mutai will steer the country to new heights in the sport.
Mutai took over the reins from Oduor Gangla who did a superb job during his term.
He will be joined by some brilliant minds who have contributed immensely to the game, including former Shujaa captain Humphrey Kayange, who was elected as one of the six directors at the union.
Others who were elected to the board are Ochieng Ahaya, Harriet Achieng, Moses Mukabane and John Kilonzo.
Kayange is also an athlete representative at the National Olympic Committee of Kenya and at the International Olympic Committee.
Moses Ndale will deputise Mutai while Raymond Olendo is the new secretary general.
Joshua Aroni retained his position as the treasurer — unopposed.
KRU’s new leadership, under Mutai, now has its work cut out to save a sport that has been slowly choked by a lack of funds and the departure of trust from sponsors.
Mutai has pledged to push above and beyond in a relentless and frantic effort to reclaim Kenya's space in the global arena.
“The team that I have is very capable. I know everyone on that team. Rugby is a team game and no one can do this alone. Everyone on that team has got their own merits and talent and my role as chair will be to harness these talents and work together to bring the game back up,” Mutai said.
He has been handed leadership at a time the union’s flagship brand, Kenya Sevens, are in the rough seas at the World Rugby Sevens Series, with their latest performance at the Hong Kong Sevens leaving a lot to be desired.
They are actually staring at relegation.
Mutai must also look for ways of sharpening the claws of Kenya Simbas, whose dream of a World Cup debut came a cropper in November's repechage in Dubai.
The new KRU honcho said his short-term goal is to create a conducive environment for the 15s and 7s teams to thrive in.
That includes getting the 15s team to the World Cup and ensuring they put in an impressive display at the forthcoming Currie Cup.
The confidence and self-esteem of the players have been severely battered following a series of torrid performances and there is a need to bring them back to the desired levels.
"We want to run it like a business," Mutai said.
Mutai and his team must also return professionalism to the sport and rummage through the corporate world for sponsors.
