IOC urges NOC-K to resolve current standoff, hold elections

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has weighed in on the stalemate that derailed the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) elections.

In a letter to the outgoing NOC-K president Paul Tergat, IOC underscored that there are guiding principles to resolve disputes as stipulated in the NOC-K constitution.

IOC moved to intervene in the ongoing dispute over who holds the voting rights that led to the postponement of the elections that were to be held on April 24 during the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The elections were suspended after the volleyball, taekwondo, handball and triathlon federations differed over who had the right to vote between their top leadership, namely presidents or secretary generals.

However, in an intervention that is likely to permanently settle the disagreement, IOC stated that federation heads are the legitimate voting delegates.

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“The process to confirm the delegates, including the voting delegate, of each member Federation entitled to attend and vote at the NOCK Elective General Assembly is clearly set out in the NOCK Constitution (in particular articles 13.1, 14.6 and 17.12)," read part of the correspondence. 

"Any such decision should be taken by the competent governing bodies of each Federation in accordance with their respective Constitutions/Statutes, noting that common sense should prevail and that, in principle, it is the President of each Federation (who is normally the main legal representative of the Federation) who should be the voting delegate of the Federation, unless he/she is absent or unable to attend for any reason, in which case the Federation should appoint another voting delegate, as mentioned in the NOCK Constitution." 

IOC further urged NOC-K members and concerned parties to act responsibly and strictly in accordance with the NOC-K constitution to complete the elections.

“We hope that the above-mentioned approach will make sense and will help address and resolve the current impasse, so that the NOCK elections can resume and conclude as soon as possible. We are counting on all NOCK members and all concerned parties to act responsibly and in good faith, in accordance with the NOCK Constitution and the Olympic Charter, to avoid unnecessary complications and make sure that the process can be completed smoothly," IOC said.

On reaching out to members of the warring parties, Moses Mbuthia of the Kenya Volleyball Federation who is vying for the position of Treasurer and opposed his president Charles Nyaberi from voting, said that he could not comment because the matter is in court.

“I cannot say anything on the matter for legal reasons because the matter is in court.”

Kenya Table Tennis Federation president Andrew Mudibo who is eyeing the Secretary General post said that they haven’t received any official communication on the IOC letter as a federation.

“We haven’t received official communication as a federation regarding the IOC’s intervention, but what IOC is calling for is what we have been pushing for all along. The matter is in court, so we wait patiently for the decision," said Mudibo.