Athletics Kenya now sets up panel to hear dispute with branches

Sports Cabinet Secreatry Hassan Wario and Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat chat shortly after a media brief on the 2017 IAAF World Youth Championship on 09-12-2014 in Nairobi.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

Athletics Kenya (AK) has set up an in-house arbitration panel to forestall a legal hitch regarding the impending arbitration with rebel branches.

The six-person panel will hear the dispute which went to the High Court on December 18 when judge Joseph Sergon ordered applicant Abraham Mutai and his group to file their grievances within 30 days to the AK Arbitration Panel, a move which put on hold calls for a special general meeting.

The six members selected to the panel are lawyer Moses Kurgat, Florence Mwangangi, Gen (Rtd) Hezron Murunga, Sarah Ochwada, a former Chief Executive Officer of Sports Stadia Management Board Sam Mwai and sports journalist Christopher Mbaisi.

A communication from AK Chief Executive Officer, Isaac Kamande, dated January 20 to Kemboy and Advocates Company said: “We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 19 regarding the dispute over the special general meeting between members of Athletics Kenya and implementation of the ruling and orders of the High Court of Kenya in Nairobi HCCC No. 382 of 2014.

“In line with the provisions of the Athletics Kenya constitution article 39 and 40, I would like to confirm the following as the members of the arbitration panel as appointed by the Executive Committee.

AK President Isaiah Kiplagat (top right) and chairmen of 14 branches have been involved in a vicious fight and the officials calling for him to step down. Among the points of disagreement are doping saga engulfing Kenyan landscape, financial expenditure of 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, and the composition of the 2017 World Youth Championships local organising committee.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Dr Hassan Wario (top left) has expressed his displeasure with the state of affairs in AK. On January 16, at the Sports Personality of the Year awards (Soya) he said the manner AK has handled the doping issue was disappointing, “yet their (AK) house is coming down on them”.