NAIROBI, December 17- The week of turmoil and divisions at Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) claimed its biggest victim when Chairman Mwangi Muthee abruptly announced his resignation from his post with immediate effect on Wednesday.
Muthee cut short his second term at the helm of the governing body months short of next year’s elections in March plunging KRU into deeper crisis citing claims of corruption, unscrupulous procurement deals, inflated expenses and insulting language among unnamed members of the Board.
It follows a dramatic five days at the union that started last Friday when Kenya 7s boss, Paul Treu quit his post after last weekend’s Nelson Mandela Bay 7s where the country lost the Bowl final to Canada to harness seven points in the third leg of the HSBC World Series to remain rooted on 14th with 11.
Two KRU directors, Godwin Karuga, credited with putting together the side and organisation of the flag ship Safaricom 7s and Maurice Masiga followed suit before assistant head coach, Felix ‘Toti’ Ochieng was appointed Treu’s successor late Tuesday after the beleaguered governing body held an extraordinary meeting.
“Yes, I have, it’s true,” Muthee confirmed to Capital Sport saying he was in a meeting.
In a statement on his decision, the outgoing boss said in part, “With immediate effect, I have resigned as the Chairman of Kenya Rugby Union.
“My efforts went to developing the game towards a world class status as well as its expansion throughout the country. The events of recent past however, compel me to vacate the position because I feel my agenda of driving the game further was being derailed. Most of all, in my opinion, some of the Board members’ integrity was not beyond reproach, threatening to bring the game into disrepute.”
The administrator who expressed his pride and satisfaction of what he has achieved in close to four years at the helm added;
“In my first two years, there was remarkable pulling together towards one goal by the Board and it was the time when our game took tremendous strides, including massive support by sponsors and epic performances, especially by Kenya 7s that reached the semi finals of the Rugby Sevens World Cup and finished fifth at the HSBC World Series.
“After midterm elections, things were never the same. This culminated in this year’s serious questions by sponsors about some of the Board members involvement of in grave issues of conflict of interest in supplying kit to KRU and fraternity, questionable procurement of airline tickets worth tens of millions shillings, questionable hotel accommodation contracts, many inflated bills, cases of unbecoming language and downright insulting language directed at senior management and some of our sponsors.”
The writing was on the wall for Muthee on Friday when Treu, one of his pet projects was forced out of Kenya 7s amid allegations had become untenable due to in-fighting at KRU as well as strained relations with Board members who undermined his authority and scuttled his work.
With Karuga and Masiga, said to be among the ‘good’ crop of directors also walking the plank on Monday, captain Muthee felt he had no other choice but to abandon the sinking ship with an explosive audit of kit deals, procurement practises, expensive claims, airline tickets and unsavoury language being conducted that will plunge the union further depths.
“Be informed that your instant exercise is neither authorized nor sanctioned by the Board, As such, you are kindly requested to cease. On addition, the Union will not bear any financial obligations arising out of this exercise,” KRU secretary, Eddie Omondi wrote in an attempt to stop the ongoing scrutiny sanctioned by Muthee and his faction of directors.
