Officials want AK statutes nullified

By ERICK OCHIENG’                  

Fourteen of the 16 Athletics Kenya (AK) regions met on Thursday in Nairobi to declare the federation’s constitution null and void.

They also want the newly created chief executive officer, communication and marketing manager, president’s PA and accountant positions scrapped, saying they are unauthorised and are adding no value to AK.

Led by AK Vice Chairman Paul Mutwii, the regions stated that the document that the Special General Meeting (SGM) passed as the new AK constitution was not the one forwarded for printing.

“The views of regional affiliates were never included in the printed falsified constitution hence rendering it irrelevant,” Mutwii said.

The affiliates have called for an SGM within 14 days under the old constitution, which they declared valid, to chart the way forward with the assistance of the Ministry of Sports, Art and Culture.

“There should be no withdrawals from AK accounts until the issues are resolved,” Mutwii said. They declared that there should be no employment of new staff until the SGM is held and pending issues resolved. They noted that there is great disparity in salary payments at the AK. “The salaries of old staff have major disparities, which is against the labour laws.

“The Sh5m to be paid to two hired workers (CEO and communication and marketing officers) in a year should be distributed to the affiliates who receive Sh7m annually to develop athletics at the grassroots,” said Mutwii.

Mutwii was flanked by other AK top brass — Nairobi AK Chairperson Barnaba Korir, PRO Evans Bosire, Vice President David Okeyo, Central Rift Valley Treasurer Elizabeth Keitany and North Rift Chairman Major Rotich.

The affiliates urged the Ministry of Sports to order AK to follow the Sports Act. Korir said the constituion wasn’t amended well. But AK President Isaiah Kiplagat said he needs more time to understand the matter.

Others who attended are Eastern Chair Josek Kinyua, Nairobi Treasurer Mwangi Kariuki, Nyanza South and North bosses Peter Angwenyi and Thomas Ongwacho, Universities Chair and Treasurer Edward Mwema and Maurice Ochieng’, Western Chair Francis Afundi, Prisons Secretary Nicholas Maswa, Police Chair Penina Kinyua, Coast Chair Dimmy Kisalu, South Rift Secretary Japheth Kemey,  Chair John Wachira and Treasurer Stephen ole Marai, and North Eastern Chair Abdullah Salat.