Third time lucky? NOC-K announce new date for long-awaited elections

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) will for the third time attempt to hold its elections after announcing a new date on Friday, 18 July afternoon.

In a letter referenced to twenty five sporting federations, the Kenyan Olympic Committee stated that the fresh polls will now take place on Monday, 21 July at a Nairobi Hotel.

Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More News

The communique, also forwarded to journalists, followed a meeting of the Executive Committee held on Friday, where it was resolved when the elective congress would be held.

The Committee will hope that its fate will turn out differently this time, having already seen two scheduled polls scuppered.

The first time came on 24 April this year, when the elections were postponed after four federations failed to agree on their respective voting officials.

The four federations included: Kenya Volleyball Federation, Kenya Handball Federation, Kenya Triathlon Federation, and Kenya Taekwondo Federation.

Much anticipated National Olympic Committee of Kenya elections postponed

Then, the contentious issue was the varying interpretation of sections in both the NOC-K Constitution, and the 2025 Election Rules and Regulations.

NOCK's second go at the polls came on Thursday, 19 June, where elections were set to be conducted pursuant to the laid out NOC-K Election Rules and Regulations of 2025.

What was hoped to be a busy day however, turned heads once again, as this time a decision from the High Court of Kenya in Eldoret issued a temporary injunction on the process, following a petition by four members, who were suing the body in charge of the elections (IEBC), Returning Officer Muthee Gakuru, Salonika Ole Koyiet, Nderitu Gikaria, and Sports Registrar Rose Wasike.

The court decision came hours after Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) Chair Andrew Mudibo had been barred from contesting the NOC-K Secretary General seat by the Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT), for being a member of a what it termed a not duly registered sports organization under the 2013 Sports Act.

Kenyan Olympic Committee elections fail to take place for second time

NOCK's decision to settle on a new date shows clear confidence in the potential absence of other legal barriers, and comes just hours after Kenya Rugby Union announced the withdrawal of nomination of former chairman Alexander Sasha Mutai from the election process, following his decision to step down from the federation earlier this year.

Mutai, who had been gunning for a committee member seat, had filed a case to the SDT this week, seeking to be allowed to contest.