Kioni seeks re-election, Maiyo contests for VC's post in today's KVF elections

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

All is set for the Kenya Volleyball Federation’s (KVF) Annual General Meeting which will take place at Roasters Hotel, in Nairobi today.

Key on the agenda will be receipt and consideration of audited accounts for the past year, approval of the 2018 budget, receiving president’s report on review of activities for the year ended as well as get reports from all branches and commissions across the country.

The last but main agenda of the day will be the election of the President, Vice President, Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer, Sports Organising Secretary, Deputy Organising Secretary and Committee Members.

City lawyer Edward Rombo has been appointed the Returning Officer of the elections that has attracted over 35 candidates in different posts.

Centre for Multiparty Democracy will serve as the observers together with the Registrar of Sports, Ministry of Sports, Kenya National Sports Council and National Olympic Committee of Kenya.

Incumbent KVF boss Waithaka Kioni, Martin Makokha (1st Vice President), Kipkemei Sirma (2nd Vice President), Ben Juma (Secretary General), Catherine Mabwi (Deputy Secretary General), Ismail Chege (Sports Organising Secretary) and his deputy Joseph Ndirangu will all be seeking re-election.

Having cleared all the 35 candidates that will be voted by 96 delegates drawn from the 18 branches (54), sitting office (13), clubs (26) and ordinary members (3), Secretary General Ben Juma assured the stakeholders of free, fair and credible elections.

“All aspirants have been cleared, nobody has been locked out,” said Juma, who will face competition from national beach volleyball team coach and former Nairobi Water women’s coach Patrick Owino.

Kioni, who is being challenged by Dominion Volleyball Club founder Martin Ochieng as he seeks his final chairmanship term in office, says he is eager to leave a legacy in volleyball.

“My achievements are there for everyone to see. I have led a stable federation during my tenure.

“Though volleyball’s image has improved, I still have unfinished business here. I want to leave volleyball more established and developed both on the court and in terms of infrastructure,” Kioni said.

Well travelled and former national team player Philip Maiyo, who was recently elected as second Vice President for North Rift Branch, will battle it out with Makokha and KNSC treasurer Charles Nyaberi for the first Vice President seat.

Incumbent Kenneth Tonui will square it out with Western Bombers team manager Silas Cheren and Thomas Moek for the treasurer position.

Aisha Otieno, Alfred Chedotum, Ednah Rotich, Joseph Kosgei, Emily Mbotel, Paul Gitau, Charles Mureithi and Gideon Njine will seek Committee members’ positions.