Sigh at last as Nock pass constitution during during extra-ordinary assembly

NOCK MEETING From Left-Founder SOYA Awards Paul Tergat, suspended Chairman NOCK Kipchoge Keino, NOCK Legal officer Sharad Rao and David Mereka of Mereka advocates during NOCK meeting at Hotel Panari on Tuesday, Feb 28, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

After weeks of uncertainty, National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) passed a new constitution yesterday in Nairobi.

The document was passed at a rescheduled extra-ordinary general assembly during which it gathered 29 votes without any objections.

Members of the Nock executive and its affiliates put up a united front to pass the document.

This is a move that will return the country to the good books of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

After the passage of the document, Nock elections have now been set for May 5. An electoral board to oversee the process will be named next week.

Speaking afterwards, athletics legend Paul Tergat who is also a member of the IOC said: “Iam happy that finally the document has been approved by the meeting and this puts us out of trouble with IOC.”

He added: “It would have been a big letdown not just for athletics but for all local sports if the document had not passed.”

Tergat who has been tipped to take over from Kipchoge Keino as Nock chairman however he declined to state whether he will contest for the top post.

Nock Secretary General F.K Paul said they are glad that this is now behind them and denied they were pressurized to pass the document by the IOC.

“As members of the executive, we always wanted what is best for the country. Ideally the document would not have achieved the two thirds majority had we stuck to the constitutional requirements but we bent over backwards to ensure the document went through.

“We realize it is important to give everyone a chance to contest for whatever posts they desire in Nock. I believe one can still win without voting for themselves,”he revealed.

He confirmed that he will be defending his post during the May 5 elections insisting that he is yet to be found guilty after being arraigned in court since last year.

Several Nock affiliates were equally delighted that the new constitution finally passed.

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