AK President Jack Tuwei to contest for World Athletics Vice Presidency

Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jack Tuwei is among the list of 31 candidates that have been approved by the international governing body for the sport of athletics - World Athletics - for election to the international federation’s governing board, the World Athletics Council.

In a statement released by World Athletics on Thursday 16 June, the 31 candidates will be elected to 18 positions on the Council at the World Athletics Congress on 17 August 2023, two days ahead of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23.

The 18 positions are broken down into one President, four Vice Presidents, at least one of which will be female, and 13 Individual Council Members.

Tuwei, who also rounds up as the President of Eastern Africa Athletics Region, will be among a list of eight candidates going for the Vice-President position and doubles up in the other list of 28, vying for 13 Individual Council Member slots.

Sebastian Coe is the sole candidate going for the President’s seat.

“I have witnessed our successes but also the challenges that come with a sport that has over 5000 registered athletes in Kenya,” General Jack Tuwei indicated as the reason(s) he is seeking election. “With our athletes, strong government support, ambitious development strategy and recently, engagement for climate action, I strongly believe that Kenya deserves a seat at the table of the top decision makers of our sport.”

For the Vice-President position, the battle for the winning four candidates will include; Nawaf Bin Mohammed Al Saud (Saudi Arabia), Raul Chapado (Spain), Abby Hoffman (Canada), Antti Pihlakoski (Finland), Ximena Restrepo (Chile), Geoff Gardener (New Zealand) and Adille Sumariwalla (India).

With a track record of success, Tuwei said that at the heart of his leadership will be enhancing the active participation of women and minorities in both technical and leadership positions.

“I will bring along my passion, unique experience, and commitment to success. I have much to share, having learned valuable lessons from our successes and challenges. I would support an increase in the number of women and minorities in leadership and technical positions in athletics and promotion of integrity by combating doping in Kenya,” he said.

Tuwei is a retired military general and has led Athletics Kenya for the past eight years.

He has overseen Team Kenya’s participation in major international competitions - two Olympic Games, three World Championships, and two Commonwealth Games.

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During his helm, the country came close to becoming the first African country in history to host a World Championship event but it lost the bid to Tokyo.

It was also during his regime that the country hosted the 2017 World Under 18 Championships, the four editions of the Kipchoge Keino World Athletics Continental Tour, and the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour, among other world-class events.