Athletics Kenya branches vow to snub ‘retreat’ in Naivasha

From left AK officials Nicholas Maswai and Francis Afundi.

By ERICK OCHIENG’

Athletics Kenya (AK) affiliate branches will not travel to Naivasha on September 19 for a retreat called by their embattled national President Isaiah Kiplagat.

Instead, the chairmen of the branches reiterated their demand to force AK to call a Special General Meeting (SGM) within 14 days to discuss contentious issues. AK Western Branch Chairman, Francis Afundi, cautioned that Kiplagat risked being pushed out of office should he fail to honour the affiliates’ demands.

“If Kiplagat does not call for an SGM after 14 days, we are going to march to Riadha House and pull him out,” said Afundi.

The chairmen of the AK branches also rejected Kiplagat’s stance that all is well at the Riadha House secretariat. They said a retreat is one way the federation is trying to buy time and water down the grievances raised last week.

Korir’s position

Nairobi AK officials have unanimously agreed not to honour the retreat and have demanded that their chairman, Barnaba Korir, states his stand on the same.

“We, as Nairobi AK, want a Special General Meeting as decided by 14 of the 16 branches. If Korir is attending the retreat he should tell us his agenda,” said branch Treasurer Pak Kariuki.

AK North Eastern chairman, Abdullahi Salat, said it is time AK listened to their views. They want the new AK constitution scrapped because it allegedly doesn’t reflect their views.

They also want the new posts of Chief Executive Officer, Marketing and Communication Manager, Personal Assistant and Chief Accountant done away with.

John Wachira, AK South Rift chairman, said: “I have instructed officials in my region not to recognise the outcome of the retreat.” Edward Muema, Universities AK boss, said they will deliberate on way forward if an SGM is not called.