Macharia replaces Kahumbura as KMSF boss

By Saddique Shaban

 

Retired rally navigator and chairman of the Rally Sports Club David Nduati Macharia is the new chairman of the Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF), taking over from Jim Kahumbura who was ousted in the polls last Saturday.

In an unanimous decision, the seven directors of KMSF tasked mandated Macharia to lead the federation for a period of the next two years after no other candidate opposed his candidature. 

In what appeared to be a gentleman’s agreement, Mark Tilbury, the chairman of the Kenya Rally Drivers Association, and previously thought to be Macharia’s sole challenger, was unanimously elected the chairman of the motor sports council, a post previously absorbed by Kahumbura.

“It’s a new era. A difficult one at this time, frankly, because drivers, riders, suppliers and sponsors are all looking up to us to take this federation and sport to where it was four years ago” said Macharia in his maiden speech after the elections.

Macharia, 53, boasts over 30 years of hands-on experience in motor sports in various capacities, including in competitive rallying.

“We believe the board consists of right people who shall henceforth speak in one voice. Never again shall we be divided”, declared Tilbury.

The new board of management has prioritised the retention of current sponsors KCB and attraction of new partners to the federation, whose financial bill of health has been described as “satisfactory” after the takeover.

“We are currently operating on a tight budget that must be supported and strengthened in the coming half of the season. All money given to us counts”, said Macharia.

The election of the chairman brings to an end the transitional phase of the federation that held its annual general meeting last Saturday and elected three new directors to the board.  The board’s first official engagement is a meeting with the KNRC sponsors KCB before fully taking charge of the upcoming KCB Advantage rally in Kisumu in September.