Downward spiral: Wahome resigns as KRU director amid calls for special meeting

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As Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) soaks up pressure amid calls for a special general meeting, another director has quit the board.

Peninah Wahome, who was in charge of development, resigned yesterday, citing recent concerns about the board.

“Having been elected as a director at the Kenya Rugby Board as per the constitution in March 2014, I hereby tender my resignation from the same,” she said in a three-paragraph letter to KRU acting chairman, Gabriel Ouko.

“Due to the recent and ongoing concerns about the board for which I do not want to be associated with as a professional in the area of sports.

“I would like to thank the rugby fraternity for having elected me and look forward to serving the sport in other capacities in future,” she said.

However, when contacted, KRU Secretary Eddie Omondi said Wahome’s resignation had little to do with the current goings-on at the Board.

“We wrote her last Friday to explain why she does not attend meetings, only to see her resignation letter this morning,” said Omondi.

The letter sent to her on Friday read in part: “The Board of Rugby Union is concerned about your failure to attend Board meetings. Of the 15 Board Meetings convened since you assumed office in March 2014, you have attended only six, missing out consecutively on the last five and without cause. The board draws to your attention Clause 10.12 (a) of the Union constitution that reads:

“An officer or Board Member shall automatically cease to be such if, he (she) fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the Board without proper cause.”

“Also despite being the director in charge of development, you have not been involved in development affairs. The Board reminds you that as a Director of the Union, you are obligated to undertake duties conferred to you by virtue of your office as well as directed by the Board,” Omondi’s letter said.

“The intent of the Board is not to sanction you on this matter, but to urge that you do take up duties of your office as well as attend and participate in Board meetings,” the letter said. 

But Wahome, while admitting to have missed some meetings “but sent my apologies”, said she has not received the letter from KRU.

“In any case, such would not be reason for me to quit. I cannot belabour problems in KRU because everybody knows what is happening there and this is why I have quit. It is all in public domain and my stay there had become untenable,” she said.

Stormers rugby Club sent a letter last Friday petitioning the Union to call for a special general meeting, whose agenda is to force the entire Board out of office. Omondi confirmed receiving the petition, but added that they would respond to that “in due course.”

Stormers have raised issues ranging from alleged inappropriate conduct to communication with sponsors, development and even management of the Union affairs.

Ouko regretted Wahome’s resignation.

“On behalf of the Board of the Kenya Rugby Union, I do hereby regrettably accept the resignation of Peninah Wahome from her position on the Board as stated in her letter dated 20.01.2015.

“It is unfortunate that Peninah has decided to resign after such a short period of service to the game. We had, however, been concerned as a Board by her continued absence over the last couple of weeks during which she had not attended meetings and had tried to reach out to her but it appears she had already made up her mind to resign.

“We thank Peninah for her service to Kenya Rugby Union and the game and wish her all the best in all her future endeavours,” said Ouko in the Union website.

Wahome’s is the third after other Directors Maurice Masiga and Godwin Karuga, plus the KRU Chairman Mwangi Muthee all resigned in the past one month.