SOK makes key appointments ahead of Winter Olympics

John Makathimo

By Erick Ochieng’

Special Olympics Kenya (SOK) Board has appointed new management to enhance its corporate brand ahead of next year’s Winter Olympics in South Korea.

 John Makathimo becomes SOK National Director, while Susan Muinde will be Sports Manager.

“With the appointment of Makathimo SOK acting National Director, Joe Mutua, who has been holding the position, will concentrate on his Africa regional office in South Africa as regional manager. His area of operation will include Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Swaziland and Ghana,” said SOK national chairman James Kimonye in a statement.

“Makathimo brings with him a wealth of experience from teaching and corporate communications,” he added.

Makathimo has held high profile jobs including lecturing at Kenya Polytechnic University College, Kenya Airways Corporate Communications, Managing Director McCann Erickson PR, and as Headmaster at St Christopher’s Preparatory School, Nairobi.

Susan Muinde

“We hope to improve SOK as a sports body as well as create Special Olympics awareness locally,” said Makathimo.

Muinde, who is a graduate of Sports Science from Kenyatta University, will be responsible for athletes’ recruitment and training of coaches. Before her appointment she was a Project Manager in charge of persons with special needs within the social welfare department at St Joseph Catholic Church in Kahawa Sukari.

The new appointees said they have embarked on a great journey to ensure Kenya wins Africa Special Olympics Football Championship in October in Johannesburg and World Swimming Championship in Puerto Rico in September.

They are also looking for ways to send a strong equestrian team to the Special Olympic Games in USA and a competent hockey team to participate in floor hockey during the Winter Olympics in January next year.