NAIROBI Kenya, May 14- Long serving Athletics Kenya (AK) Honorary Treasurer, Joseph Kinyua and Public Relations Officer, Peter Angweyi, were the high profile casualties during the National Executive Committee elections conducted in Nairobi on Tuesday.
Kinyua who was tapped to the federation by President, Isaiah Kiplagat, in 1996 and Angwenyi who has served as the relations officer for two terms were bundled out with Central Region AK chair, David Miano and Kisii AK boss, Evans Bosire, replacing them.
Also losing her seat in the Ex-Co is Co-opted Member, Mary Chege, who was in charge of women’s affairs at the federation after she lost out the Vice-President’s slot reserved for women to AK Coast Region’s Fatuma Awale.
After the Secretary General’s post was scrapped, the immediate former holder, David Okeyo, will be the principal assistant to Kiplagat who went in un-opposed for his seventh term after he garned the most votes in the race for the vice-president’s seat.
Okeyo, who has served the federation for 24 years, garnered 56 votes to dislodge Lt Gen (Rtd), Jack Tuwei from the first Vice-President’s post with sitting second Vice-President, Paul Mutwii (49) and the former Commander of Kenya Army (40) clinching the other two deputies positions reserved for men.
Kinyua and Angwenyi were supplanted from the NEC following weeks of lobbying and political machinations at the corridor’s of Riadha House, after they aligned themselves to a faction that also included Kenya Police boss, Jonathan Koskei and assistant treasurer, Dimi Kisaru, who barely survived the purge.
“I am happy to report that the year 2012 was yet another very successful year in terms of every parameter that counts in sound and prudent financial management,” Kinyua said while presenting the treasurers report at the Annual General Meeting that preceded the elections.
“I have accepted the outcome and I’m happy to have served the sport for that long. The time is ripe for me to engage in other things and I wish the new team all the best,” the ousted Treasurer who is also the chairman of AK Eastern said after losing to Miano 37 to 26.
The incoming money man at the federation, Miano, will however, not wield as much control over the coffers like Kinyua since AK is in the process of hiring a Financial Manager to take over most of the functions related to the Treasurer’s office.
He was a late entry into the race having decided to switch his interest from the Vice-President’s post in a move that raised eyebrows and led to the belief that some sitting NEC members were targeted for the purge.
Renowned coach, Dan Muchoki, who lost in the Vice-President’s race, was also another late entry whose candidature was also viewed with suspicion.
“To be elected is one thing and to perform is another, and that’s our challenge,” Kiplagat challenged the members of NEC who were voted in a process that was delayed on five occasions since last December for a variety of reasons.
One of the reasons was the requirement only members of the previous NEC and elected officials from the regional polls held on May 7 would have the power to vote during the national polls as well as a conflict in the member’s register that saw the Ministry of Sports call for a cancellation of the exercise.
During the reading of his last Financial Report, Kinyua disclosed the federation had earned a surplus in excess of Sh100m.
“The income rose considerably in 2011 due to the review of the Nike Contract and the favourable dollar exchange rate,” he added.
AK ELECTED NEC
Isaiah Kiplagat- President
Vice-Presidents
David Okeyo
Paul Mutwii
Lt Gen (Rtd) Jack Tuwei
Women Vice-Chairperson
Fatuma Awale
Treasurer
David Miano
Asst Treasurer
Dimi Kisaru
PRO
Evans Bosire
-Report by Joseph Muraya
