CS Amina steps in to save Kenyan Cricket

Cricket Kenya has received a shot in the arm after Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Amina Mohammed appointed a Normalization Committee on Tuesday 16 March to streamline its activities.

Wrangles within Cricket Kenya had threatened to push the sport to oblivion in the country after several warnings from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

A press release obtained by Mozzart Sport from CS Amina, confirmed the appointment of a five-man committee comprising of Lady Justice (Rtd.) Joyce Aluoch as Chairperson, Justice (Rtd.) Alnashir Visram, Mrs. Jane Muigai-Kampuis, Eng. Morris Aluanga and Dr Walter Ongeti to spearhead the committee.

“In the circumstances and in order to preserve Kenya’s proud cricket tradition and international sportsmanship reputation, I have in consultation with the ICC leadership, Cricket Kenya stakeholders and pursuant to the provisions of Section 52 of the Sports Act, 2013 Resolved as follows:”

“A Cricket Kenya Normalization Committee (“Committee”) whose mandate is elaborated below is hereby established for a period of six months with effect from 16th March 2020,” read the letter in part.

The secretariat of the committee includes Mr Jaxon Indakwa – Deputy Sports Commissioner, State Department for Sports, Rizpha Mukonyo, Deputy Chief State Counsel, State Department for Sports, Ms Mercy Okiro – Sports Lawyer and Arbitrator, Kenya Private Sector Alliance and Ms. Caroline Kariuki-Ag-Deputy Commissioner for Sports.

The committee is tasked with coordinating the finalization of the Draft Constitution and ensure its validation in line with the requirements of the Sports Act 2013 and the ICC Statutes.

- Ensure smooth running of Cricket Kenya’s operations including team preparations for local and international events and coordinate and facilitate the compliance of Cricket Kenya to the ICC requirements.

- Facilitate the elections of new officials as per the validated Constitution and hand over Cricket Kenya to newly elected officials after a successful election.

- The committee will also be required to recommend to the Sports CS long-lasting solutions to the problems facing Cricket Kenya.

Save our game! Plead cricket stakeholders

Cricket Kenya hit the upper echelons of the sport back in the ’90s and early 2000s with the most notable feat being beating West-Indies to claim a 73-run triumph in the 1996 World Cup and reached the semi-finals in the 2003 intercontinental tourney. 

In July 2018, ICC issued a Suspension Notice to Kenya following glaring governance lapses within Cricket Kenya and non-compliance with ICC Membership criteria.