OLUOCH REINSTATED: Sports Disputes Tribunal reinstates Kenya National Paralympics Committee chairperson

CHAIRPERSON KENYA PARALYMPICS COMMISSION 2
Chairperson of Kenya Paralympics commission Agnes Oluoch. PHOTO:COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD

Agnes Flora Oluoch is back as Kenya National Paralympics Committee (KNPC) chairperson.

In a 17-page ruling, Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) reinstated Oluoch during a final hearing held at the Sports ministry boardroom in Nairobi, on Tuesday.

The tribunal ruled the KNPC Special General Meeting (SGM) held on February 14, 2015 at the Nyayo National Stadium, which was used to expel Oluoch from her position and elevate her deputy Dennis Muga as interim chairman, was done in total disregard to the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and the KNPC Constitution.

 

VALIDLY ELECTED

It also ruled that Oluoch remains KNPC’s validly elected chairperson while Muga, who led a faction that expelled her, shall serve in his capacity as the committee’s first vice chairperson.

“Any decisions, directions, competitions or resolutions passed by the Dennis Muga-led faction while he (Muga) purported to act as the KNPC chairperson are null and void,” SDT chairman John Ohaga stated in the ruling.

The tribunal said that all communications from KNPC and the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) or any other stakeholders will be the responsibility of the secretary general (Elijah Mwandihi), in accordance with the KNPC constitution.

“The tribunal directs that pursuant to this judgement, the Sports Registrar shall forward to the IPC a list of the bona fide officials of KNPC and request that the suspension of KNPC from IPC be lifted,” said Ohaga.

Oluoch had been embroiled in a case against the Muga-led faction, in which she was accused of favouritism in the selection of two national players for a Dream Team Programme in Gangwon Province, South Korea.

The programme required Kenya to send two athletes (born between 1992 and December 2002) to South Korea for the all-expenses-paid fellowship.

 SELECTION OF ATHLETES

But the faction felt Oluoch went against their wishes with her selection of athletes Shem Maina Mwangi and Daniel Safari Katheku and coaches Elijah Mwandihi and Peter Mwaura Muchai to attend the programme.

This prompted a letter allegedly signed by some of the board members which was sent to the IPC on December 16, 2014 stating that the members had decided to suspend Oluoch from her KNPC chairperson role.

The members then decided to install Muga as KNPC interim chairperson on February 14 during the Nyayo SGM.

KNPC treasurer John Tita, who was angered by yesterday’s ruling, hinted that the faction will release a statement in due course regarding their position on the ruling.