The leadership wrangling in Kenyan cricket took another twist after the newly appointed interim treasurer Kennedy Obuya cancelled cheques prepared to pay National team players and technical staff.
It was not clear why Obuya took the dreaded decision, but few hours later, the Sport Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa intervened and ordered Obuya to rescind his decision and prepare new cheques for the aggrieved players and officials to enjoy their Christmas festivities.
Obuya’s action shocked the entire cricket fraternity forcing the acting interim office to ask the minister to intervene.
Addressing the media at the Ruaraka Sports club, Tom Tikolo who is the Chairman of Cricket Kenya (CK) thanked the Minister for his timely intervention.
‘We do thank the Minister for intervening because now we have hopes of enjoying the festivities like other families.Most of our players have families and considering the impending school fees from next month, it was fair to pay them their dues. It was sad for one of our interim official to cancel the cheques at a critical time when we are all preparing for the long festivities “noted Tikolo.
Tikolo who was flanked by several National players and several coaches pleaded for the interim committee to work together as a team and take the game to another level. ‘If we can all focus in one direction, we can move forward and put behind the perceived wrangles affecting our game.” Observed Tikolo.
Others who attended the meeting included General manager Josphat Murithi,Fatume Dafala(Administration), National team players Rushab Patel,Gurdeep Singh,and wicket Keeper Irfan Karim.Pysiotherapist Moses Muturi and two coaches Abraham Lugada(Vihiga) and Mathias Wasike of Muranga also attended the meeting.
The two wrangling factions decided earlier to share positions for the ‘sake’ of the game.
At a previous meeting held earlier in the week at the Sports Ministry offices,the Interim Committee that has been at the centre of controversy, was disbanded and a four-member committee appointed to run the affairs of CK for the next three months ahead of elections.
In a statement,Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa said: “In a bid to unlock the stalemate that’s hindering cricket progress, we’ve found a solution that will see cricket glory restored once again.”
The committee will be headed by Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) chairman, Tom Tikolo while former national team wicket keeper Kennedy Obuya will be the treasurer.
CK vice chairman Palli Sehmi will serve in the same capacity while NPCA treasurer, Kalpesh Solanki, will be the development director.
However, Obuya’s younger brother David Obuya, who was the Interim Committee secretary was shown the door.
