Board fills gap left by Muthee at KRU

Nairobi, Kenya: Barely hours after Muthee announced his resignation, the KRU board met and elected a new chairman - Gabriel Ouko. Before his rushed appointment or election by the board, Ouko, popularly known as Gabby, was the union’s treasurer.

According to a statement sent to newsrooms from KRU Secretary General Eddie Omondi, the decision to fill Muthee’s shoes was reached at a meeting held on December 17.

Omondi said the board had unanimously appointed Ouko chairman of the union to “serve out the remainder of the term” until the next annual general meeting to be held before March 31 next year.

Ouko will also continue to discharge his duties as treasurer.

While thanking Muthee for his selfless dedication to rugby, Omondi’s statement read in part: “Undoubtedly under his (Muthee) tenure the game has been taken to every corner in the country. Kenya Sevens grew into a global brand and Kenya 15s was on the brink of a Rugby World Cup qualification. The Board and the game are forever indebted to him.

“As a Board, we sincerely thank him and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. He shall forever be a good friend of rugby.”

The question on the lips of many rugby lovers, however, is why the board would settle on Gabby instead of Vice Chairman Philip Jalang’o.

Sources close to KRU intimated to FeverPitch that even though a number of board members were perceived to be leaning towards Jalang’o, many felt uncomfortable with him leading the union.