Pressure mounts on NOCK as affiliate associations call on IOC’s help after local Olympic body backtracks on elections

COURT National Olympics Council Of Kenya deputy chair in court Bernard Kaburi Ekumbo ,the 1st vice chairman of the National Olympics Council Of Kenya in the dock at a Milimani court where he was charged with, theft, abuse of office and neglect of duty.He was remanded at Muthaiga police station for three days to allow police to finish investigation.22/11/2016 PHOTO BY GEORGE NJUNGE

National Olympic Committee of Kenya affiliates are accusing the sitting executive of back-tracking on agreements reached with the international body.

The affiliates now want International Olympic Committee (IOC) to send a delegation to Kenya to assess how far the local affiliate, Nock, has gone in implementing agreements reached.

In a statement to the media, Andrew Mudibo speaking on behalf of the affiliates also pointed out that the recent arrest of Nock First Vice Chairman Ben Ekumbo casts a dark shadow on the entire executive.

Ekumbo was arrested on Monday after kit meant for Team Kenya was found in his house.

“The arrest of Ekumbo and media reports which showed kit that allegedly belongs to athletes being removed from his house just shows that the problems at Nock are bigger than what we are seeing.

“The 2nd Vice Chairman Pius Ochieng, Secretary General FK Paul, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Arap Soi have all been charged in court with Nock Treasurer Fridah Shiroya being arrested and released to be a state witness.

“Surely, you cannot have the top four officials of Nock implicated and charged in court and with the possibility of more officials being arrested also and say that things are alright. They are not and have not been alright and that is why the Nock Constitution must change,” Mudibo said.

He added: “The allegations being made against NOCK individuals cast a very dark shadow on Nock as an institution.

“If the allegations raised against these individuals are proved to be true, they would not only constitute serious breaches of Nock’s obligations under the IOC Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics, local and international laws on ethics and financial probity, but also potential breaches of some of the aggrieved persons’ fundamental and/or human rights.”

He said as a result of the above, the interests of affiliates who are members of the Olympic body and also the future of the Olympic movement in Kenya is now facing a major challenge.

“Recent statements made by NOCK Secretary General FK Paul on the time frame that involves changing of the constitution and ultimately holding of elections once again shows that the principles of good governance is lacking in the organisation,” he said.

FK Paul said last week that IOC did not place a time-frame on when elections should be held despite the international body making it clear that Nock must carry out comprehensive reforms on its constitution and hold polls by December 31.