How Athletics Kenya missed the lane to self redemption

Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat congratulates vice presidents Jackson Tuweii (right), David Okeyo (second right) and Paul Mutwii during the elections last Tuesday. [PHOTO: STAFFORD ONDEGO.STANDARD]

 

By Omulo Okoth

The script went almost as planned. The Athletics Kenya (AK) elections, after being postponed four times, finally took place on Tuesday.

It was carefully choreographed even in breach of sections of its own constitution, like matters of integrity and eligibility.

AK chiefs were determined to get their way, come rain or shine although the public mood is totally against recycling of the same old men.

But Isaiah Kiplagat, who has twice in the past said he wants to quit, returned unopposed.

No one can blame him because nobody came out to oppose him. Observers say it is a futile attempt to beat them.

He now wants to contest for a top position in the more prestigious National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) elections on May 29.

Outgoing treasurer and educationist, Joseph Kinyua and Peter Angwenyi, who held the Public Relations Officer’s docket for two terms, lost after falling out of favour with the AK order. Their ouster was painstakingly planned for the regional polls.

People sent to their regions to register members were apparently detailed to ensure they lost at that stage. One such person openly bragged that he was out to get Angwenyi out.

But they were voted back as regional chairmen, with Kinyua coming back unopposed.

At the national stage, the national office had total control of the process. Angwenyi, who lost by a single vote to Evans Bosire, worked hard and almost retained his position.

But one of his ‘friends’ who was overwhelmingly voted for, whose path to one of the many positions he holds was reportedly opposed by Angwenyi and Kinyua, at the behest of a top AK man, pulled a fast one on him.

That is the nature of elections. People pretend to be chummy yet deep inside; they are seething with rage, plotting and planning dirty games on friend and foe alike. When they get half a chance, they stab and turn the knife inside.

They form alliances during the day, but shift them almost at will in the night fall.

Last year’s Olympic Games in London caused a major fall-out within AK ranks.

Wounds caused during the Games, in which Kenya’s performance fell below the public expectations, were still sceptic during this week’s poll.

The blame game that followed put AK and NOCK at diametrically opposing camps.

Therefore those perceived to have tilted towards the National Olympic Committee in the aftermath of the bitter row on whether Kenyan athletes were to camp in Bristol or not, like Angwenyi, suffered the consequences of their actions.

Kinyua is accused to have campaigned for Kiplagat’s position when he was in India for treatment. His detractors poisoned Kiplagat’s mind with that Kanu-style propaganda, which portrayed Kinyua as a callous and ambitious man.

However, even David Okeyo and Paul Mutwii, who polled the highest and second highest for the vice presidency, were not the favourites among the candidates. That is where the math did not go on as planned.

The disbanding of the position for secretary general was seen in many quarters to cut Okeyo down to size, as some people were getting uneasy with his immence influence, power and ascendancy in global sports leadership.

But as fate would have it, it has worked in his favour. Such are the vagaries of life.

Well, now, they have to live with the fact that he is the first among equals and the heir apparent if, as Kiplagat, for the umpteenth time, makes good his retirement promise.

Kiplagat would have been more comfortable with Lt Gen (rtd) Tuweii to top the succession line, though.

But with Kinyua and Angwenyi still reeling from the angst of defeat, AK will navigate through a very stormy period this time around. The two can marshal a very strong opposition capable of making life very uncomfortable for the office bearers.

 

— The writer is the Sports Editor at The Standard (iomulo @standardmedia.co.ke)