Sports Cabinet Secretary Dr Hassan Wario summons Athletics Kenya (AK)

By FEVERPITCH REPORTER

Sports Cabinet Secretary, Dr Hassan Wario, has summoned Athletics Kenya (AK) national executive committee for a meeting this Tuesday.

Consequently, AK President, Isaiah Kiplagat, has invited members of AK executive to report at Riadha House (AK headquarters) at 10am same day “in preparation for the meeting with the minister.”

“The Minister for Sports, Culture and the Arts Dr Hassan Wario, has convened a meeting for Athletics Kenya Executive members to be held on Tuesday, September 17 at 2pm at Kencom House,” read the statement from Kiplagat’s office.

“You are invited for a meeting at 10am at Riadha House in preparation for the meeting with the minister,”  added the statement.

A section of AK executive and branches have demanded a special general meeting for September 26 and severally defied AK President’s calls for truce.

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Majority of the executive committee members have openly rebelled against Kiplagat saying the final constitution was altered.

Some dissenting voices have surprisingly been Kiplagat’s loyal supporters like Nandi, Prisons, Nairobi, South Rift AK branches.

Heart of rebellion

At the heart of this rebellion is the withdrawal of annual administration grant to branches (Sh200,000), with funds now going to salaries of senior staff employed to run the affairs of the federation.   

They are also bitter with the unilateral co-option of members in the executive, which they claim does not reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of Kenya.

Officials argue that elected members like public relations officer and treasurer have been rendered jobless following the employment of communications and marketing, chief executive officers and accountant.

Kiplagat is also accused of unilaterally setting up an executive board, which comprises the president, the four vice presidents, the treasurer and the CEO to run the affairs of the federation, to the exclusion of the elected executive committee.

The rebelling affiliates are also complaining about the new constitution, which they say, does not reflect the wishes, or have the input, of athletics stakeholders. But Kiplagat dismissed those complaining about the constitution, saying they were not sincere because they all approved the draft constitution.