Analysts warn power vacuum imminent in KPL if current chair Rachier loses in Gor Mahia poll

BY TOM BWANA

The Gor Mahia elections slated for today may have far reaching effects, not just to the league champions, but to the entire Kenya Premier League (KPL).

The KPL rule states that the chairman of the league winning team assumes the role of KPL chair. Gor Mahia Chairman, Ambrose Rachier, currently holds the league body’s top position.

However, as the club goes to the elections, Rachier is facing stiff competition to retain the club chairman’s position. Should Rachier lose the Gor chairmanship at the polls, who then becomes chair of the KPL?

“Either way, I will remain actively involved with Gor Mahia because I will remain the KPL Chairman,” asserts a confident Rachier, adding: “the KPL rules are clear that the Chairman of KPL must have been the chairman of his club for at least one year.”

A source within the KPL says the rule on chairmanship does not talk about individuals. “It is a visor rule that says the Chairman of the league-winning club shall be the chairman of the KPL. When that club did its election does not matter.”

The source explains: “The chairmanship is an institution thus we are not talking of the person. That league winning club has obviously been in the league for more than a year and it has had its chairmanship. The individual that occupies that position in that club shall then occupy the league chairmanship. Simple.”

But other stakeholders in the league expressed different views on the issue, further showing how the Gor elections could throw the league into disarray.

KPL CEO Jack Oguda was of the opinion that should there be a new person at the helm of Gor Mahia other than Rachier, then that individual would only chair the KPL after six months.

“Our statutes state that the individual that becomes Chairman of the KPL must have headed his club for at least six months. So should there be a new chairman at Gor, then he can only head the league some time in June.”

So does this mean there would be a power vacuum at the KPL during the six months? Jack Oguda says: “The Chairman of AFC Leopards, having finished second in the league, will act as Chair for that period.”

Amidst this puzzle, however, former KPL Chairman Bob Munro offers his view, which he says is what should happen.

“Should Rachier lose the Gor Mahia chairmanship, then obviously the league chairmanship has to be transferred to the club that finished second. And in this case, it is AFC Leopards. So the issue of someone acting does not arise. The team that finished second provides the first Vice Chair of the league hence that individual will head the league for the entire season.”

Ambrose Rachier is one of the top lawyers in Kenya, Jack Oguda is the league’s CEO, Bob Munro is one of the founders of the Kenya Premier League, while our source is one that cannot be wished away. All these individuals reading from different scripts in interpreting the rules is a sure sign that the regulations governing our league could through the league in a quandary. 

tbwanat@gmail.com