Kiplagat blocks SGM: Delegates pledge to return to complete their mission after court hurdle

Reballious AK Branch Officials led by Paul Mutwii (left) outside the Riadha House after being denied entry to convene their Special General meeting from taking place on 14the Novemener 2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO.

If Isaiah Kiplagat ever doubted the gravity of Athletics Kenya (AK) delegates to oust him from his Riadha House office, yesterday was his answer.

With 52 of the 61 delegates, who voted him to office unopposed baying for his ouster in a botched Special General Meeting at Nyayo Stadium, Kiplagat needs no more charming to understand his 38-year reign is hanging by the thread.

Yesterday, Kiplagat locked out the disgruntled AK delegates from gaining entry to the federation’s headquarters at Riadha House, where the SGM was to take place.

Adminstration Police manned Athletics kenya offices, Riadha House to prevent the relellious AK Branch offices from convening their Special General meeting from taking place ON 14the Novemener 2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

AK Vice Chairman Paul Mutwii, who is leading the onslaught, said they will return to complete their mission, after being served with a court order, with a copy pinned at the federation headquarters.

“We will be back. Our lawyers will take up the matter to court in seven days and we will also be in court on November 26 as requested for the hearing of the case. It is not a lost course, the quest is gaining momentum,” he said.

Mutwii, who is also the AK Southern branch Chairman was accompanied by Jonathan Koskei (Kenya Police), Barnaba Korir (Nairobi), Nicholas Maswai (Prisons), Joseph Kinyua (Eastern) among others delegates and observers.

The 85 AK members present at Nyayo Stadium included coaches, former athletes, and branches officials. Their short peaceful march to Riadha House from Nyayo Stadium’s Swimming pool side was cut at the gates with security officials denying them entry, backed by the court order.

“It’s unfortunate to lock out AK members from entering the building,” said Mutwii. “The move has contravened the very constitution Kiplagat is defending. How can he (Kiplagat) deny the very people who elected him to manage the athletics affairs entry to their office.”

“By deploying the private security and Administration Policemen at Riadha House to prevent us from conducting our meeting, Kiplagat is spoiling the image of our sport but we are going to comply with the orders,” said Mutwii.

The branch officials quoted the AK constitution section 10-2 (D) that allows the convening of Special General meeting (SGM).

“We have followed all the due procedures required in our constitutions. The president is out of scope with the reality on the ground,” said AK Nairobi Branch Chairman Barnaba Korir.

“The delegates here are much focused and at the end we are going to achieve our goal. This are the poeple who manage athletes on daily basis, while he sits in his office to bask in glory of their hard work. His time is up and we will follow the constitution to get him out. It is him who has taken us to court and not us taking AK to court,” said Korir.

The group claims they want to see serious changes in athletics management, right from the ground in all the region.

“There is no athlete in Kenya who can attribute his success to AK and remember they have funds for athletics development”, said Maurice Ochieng, the Athletics Kenya University branch treasurer.

On Thursday evening, the group held a meeting with Sports Cabinet secretary Hassan Wario. The CS has summoned the branch chairmen to hear out their case on why they want to kick out their president.

“The minister was concerned that the wrangles might affect the country’s bid for the for the IAAF World Youth Championships in 2017. But we assured him that we are behind the bid and knows that as he leaves for Monte Carlo, Monaco for the bid presentation, we are all together,” said Korir.

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