Richard Omwela announcing his candidature for the Kenya Rugby Union Chairmanship on Feb.25, 2015 at KRU Grounds.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO
Former Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairman Richard Omwela has caused ripples in the corporate and rugby sectors.
Last week, he announced his bid for the same seat that he occupied for eight years until 2011. Mwangi Muthee unseated him then with a clarion call of what would today be Rugby Mashinani (rugby at the grassroots).
Muthee based his campaign on affiliates, mostly upcountry, admitted into the game in 2009 while Omwela was chairman. In the polarising campaign, the newer sides were pitted against the more established ones especially those based along Ngong Road – Impala, Kenya Harlequins and Nondescripts – the oldest existing clubs.
Omwela is, at the moment, using the clarion call of 'Unity' and 'Integrity'. On his Facebook page, he is exhorting all: 'Whatever you do, however you do it, Keep Rugby Clean'.
"I feel that whereas the game was on solid footing when I left, there is a sense in which structures to secure its most sacred values had not been entrenched," he says.
"Much of the behaviour we have recently witnessed is the result of sheer indiscipline. This is seen when board members leak their communication and wrangle endlessly. There have been accusations of impropriety. We must accord due process to accused people but the repercussions of wayward people must be sure. Our rules are very elaborate in dealing with disrepute. We must just enforce them"
Omwela is credited with having personally negotiated the Safaricom Sevens deal with former CEO Michael Joseph. The other big partners of KRU – Kenya Airways and Bamburi Cement also arrived in his tenure.
"Even now, it will not be difficult to sell rugby to potential partners. I have spoken to quite a few in my private conversations and the formula is simple – a clean sport that is hinged on what the sport espouses – integrity, discipline, and respect founded in unity and passion. The sport offers much commercial value in marketing, public relations and actual sales considering the average clientele. I owe the game the tenets that entrench these simple values"
What does Omwela want to be remembered for? "Well, I want to remembered as that man who built the foundations for take-off and when the train left its rails, came back to return it to a more solid track. I want even more resources in Kenya Rugby. I want to carry affiliates and women along as I work towards a medal in Rio (Olympics) 2016 and to qualify for the Rugby World Cup 2019," Omwela concludes.
-Ollows is a former Kenya international
