Is this end of the road for Athletics Kenya supremo?

AK president Kiplagat resorting to court action to stop Special General Meeting hints that his time is up

Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat. [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Events leading to Athletics Kenya’s president Isaiah Kiplagat's resorting to court action to stop a Special General Meeting planned by 14 AK branches can only point to one thing. His time is up.

The Isaiah Kiplagat, AK Chairman-turned-president, IAAF Council Member, Safari Rally Chairman and corporate captain of repute that I have known for the30 years would not have gone to court to stop some rebellious renegades challenging his hitherto iron-grip authority on athletics management in Kenya.

The Kiplagat that I know would take the battle to the renegades. He would have simply called his own meeting for branch chairmen to railroad them into his plans and, I can assure you, these guys would have seen fire. Kiplagat was authority and power incarnate.

Even chairmen of umbrella bodies like National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Charles Mukora) or Kenya National Sports Council (Musembi Mbathi - R.I.P.) cringed in fear when Kiplagat appeared at their meetings.

He pulled no punches in his approach to issues affecting sports in general and athletics in particular. He feared nobody. Add this to his knowledge of the sports and even hard-nosed reporters had to do their research well before seeking interviews with Kiplagat.

RUN TO COURT

But for Kiplagat to run to court for protection against his own branches, who elected him unopposed for the umpteenth time only last year, means something has gone terribly amiss. The AK underbelly's has been exposed and questions are being asked. Why do people want to stay in office for life?

I cannot pretend to say I know where the problem is, but having been around for quite a while, I can say without any fear of contradiction that his time at the helm of AK is up.

When subjects no longer fear to tell the king that he is naked, that is the most obvious sign that his authority can be ended in ignominy. There was a time when being seen in the ‘wrong’ company was enough to condemn AK officials to Golgotha. ‘Wrong’ company here included journalists who did not toe the ‘official’ line.

EXPANDING DEMOCRATIC SPACE

But I commend these renegades for expanding the democratic space in AK management for they are now facing the president and telling him we want to discuss your conduct and we are asking you to not only facilitate the meeting but also chair it.

That was unthinkable in the AK order that I was used to. Although good for purposes of democratising AK, it is sad for a man who has done a lot for athletics in Kenya, but who, wittingly or unwittingly, did not read the signs in good time.

With Riadha House standing elegantly in the midst of abject poverty that is the nature of Kenyan sports, Kiplagat should have done what he promised 10 years ago when he declared he would not run for office again.

When he declared that when a man dances the same style for too long, he no longer interests his audience. People would are talking about him in glowing terms. What a rich legacy that would have been for a man sitting with the world’s athletics ruling body, IAAF!

He should have handed the baton but be available to be consulted by the younger generation. And he will be spoilt for choice if only to look for someone to hand over to. But the most prudent thing is to let them select their own president without him being suspected to be meddling in the succession battle, which is the main course, and curse, of problems at AK.

By being perceived to be paving the way for one of his vice presidents, is widening the chasm existing between Kiplagat and his branches. The public is left wondering what it is that Kiplagat wants to achieve in this time and age, which he did not in three decades he was at the helm, that he can remain so adamant even to the popular demand for him to step aside.

Whether the court affords Kiplagat breathing space or not, he should now seriously think of letting go and only mad people will fail to recognise and appreciate his contribution to athletics development in Kenya.s.

— The writer is Senior Associate Editor, Sports ([email protected])