Five officials resign from Kenya Ladies Golf Union over administration

By FeverPitch Reporter

The lady golfers governing body has been hit by mass resignations, although the leadership downplayed what observers see as a crisis in the Union.

In the past month, five officials of Kenya Ladies Golf Union (KLGU) have resigned their positions, citing different reasons, but the co-option of two officials seemed to have provoked the usually non-controversial members to walk out.

Salma Mazrui-Watt was the first to quit on July 12 followed by Wambui Danner and Rose Musau, a week later. Mukami Gatonye was next on July 21 while Felista Mutinda quit on July 22.

But KLGU chairman, Dorcas Mbalanya, said the Union is calm and running its affairs well.

“There is no crisis. Those resignations are normal and there is no drama. We just won a major tournament recently and we are going on with business of running the Union as usual,” said Mbalanya.

 “Under the KLGU constitution, such matters are addressed only by the Executive Council and not through the press,” she told FeverPitch.

But a committee member, who requested anonymity, said there is a problem in the Union.

“There is high-handedness and management has issues. I can’t say more,” said the official.

One of the officials who quit seems to have let the cat out of the bag of a protracted differences.

“We held a candid, lengthy, self-reflective, conciliatory special executive council meeting on July 10. We talked about an all-inclusive council, a consultative one, respecting our own constitution…” she confided in FeverPitch.

Against norm

“Barely 10 days later, you have gone against that spirit with your unilateral decision to appoint a joint secretary without involving Council members, without notice, without an agenda to all Council members, without a quorum,” she said.

“I don t wish to continue serving on a Council under such circumstances and hereby tender my resignation from KLGU Executive Council with immediate effect,” she said.

Gatonye cites national team selections, saying there is lack of respect for selectors and ignoring their choices, co-option of the two officials and even touching on the Limuru Country Club saga, which ended in court.

Mazrui-Watt accuses the Council of vindictiveness “and not conciliatory to its membership. “I do not like the character we have taken. In this situation, we will always be at loggerheads with our members with great financial repercussions to our institution,” she said.

“Decisions seem to be made by a few people in the executive council without ratification by all,” she said, citing the expulsion of two officials, allegedly without full council’s ratification.