Veteran sports journalist announces candidature for top Chess Kenya post
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 01.10.25. | 12:30
He will be challenged by current vice chairman Andrew Owili, with both candidates set to announce their respective line-ups in due course
Ahead of next year’s Chess Kenya elections, current treasurer Gilbert Wanderah has announced his intention to go for the top seat.
Join our WhatsApp channel for more news
He will be challenged by current vice chairman Andrew Owili, with both candidates set to announce their respective line-ups in due course.
Wanderah, a veteran sports journalist, threw his hat into the ring on Sunday during an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the federation.
He will look to use his vast experience over the last eight years to steer the federation to an even better place.
“We have had massive success in many areas, and especially in promoting the sport among our youth.
I will build on that success to bring even more success in other areas,” he said.
.jpg)
He added: "One of my key areas of improvement is the league, and already my team has identified two major sponsors who will come on board immediately we are elected.”
Wanderah said he will seek to increase the prize fund for teams taking part in both the Premier League and Super League.
“In the first year, our target is to ensure that teams taking part in the top-tier league benefit from a Ksh1.5 million sponsorship, while the second-tier league will have a Ksh1 million prize fund to be shared among teams.
For many years, our teams have complained about the low prize fund, and my team has listened to their plea, and we are going to do something about it,” he said.
To make the league more competitive and attractive to sponsors, Wanderah said both the top-tier and second-tier competitions will have a maximum of 16 teams.
With County Associations coming into place, Wanderah’s vision is to develop leagues at this level to ensure that clubs are able to compete at this level and earn promotion.
“County Associations will remain a big part of revolutionising the sport, and apart from running their own leagues, we shall empower them to hold annual open tournaments.”
He revealed that an annual grant of Ksh100,000 will be given to each county so that they can organise Open tournaments in their jurisdictions.
.jpg)
The elections will be held on Saturday, 28 February 2026, with county polls set for a week earlier.
Current Chess Kenya chairman Bernard Wanjala will not be re-elected as he has already served two terms, as provided for under the Sports Act.
