Hezron Okoth (centre) addressing the press flanked by 14 other branch chairmen. PHOTO/RAYMOND MAKHAYA
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 3 – A storm is brewing at Gor Mahia over club elections with a section of the branches giving an ultimatum to the current office to organise polls by latest December 4, coming just a few days after a hurriedly called Special General Meeting was called off in equal pace.
Addressing the press this afternoon, Kondele branch chair Hezron Okoth speaking on behalf of 15 of the 23 Gor branch chairmen has asked the office to call for an elective Annual General Meeting and not an SGM as earlier planned.
An elective AGM had been initially set for February when the term of the current office expired, but the incumbents postponed to give the club time to align with the Sports Act, a mandatory requirement put out for all sports institutions by the Ministry of Sports.
“It is long overdue and they ought to call us for an AGM. They are currently in office illegally according to the constitution. We have followed so many channels to air our issues about the elections but they have collapsed. That is why we have decided to make this known to the public,” Okoth said, giving a December 4 ultimatum for the AGM.
This storm comes up after the Gor office last week called off an SGM which was meant to take place last Sunday, citing the unavailability of Nyayo Stadium.
Current chair Ambrose Rachier also pointed out the SGM, which was meant to fine tune amendments to the club’s constitution could also not take off because the same had not been finalized.
And now, the branches are up in arms saying they were never consulted in the constitutional amendments.
“The timing of the whole constitution making issue is a bit suspect considering the office had years to get a new constitution that conforms with the Sports Act but chose to ignore it till the very last days and when elections are due. It shows a lack of goodwill from the EC and leaves a lot of questions hanging as to the real intentions of this sudden rush to adopt a hastily and secretly done draft,” the branches noted in a joint statement.
The branches also punched holes on the reasons for calling off the AGM, accusing Rachier and his team of running the club privately.
“We believe that what is best for our club right now is an AGM, which is two years overdue, where members can get to know the state of the club, get financial reports and do elections to replace or reelect the current office whose tenure legally elapsed in February this year.”
“We therefore call on the club’s chairman to give us the date for the AGM and roadmap for elections to put off the unhealthy uncertainty currently hovering above our beloved club,” the statement added.
Rachier, backed by club patron Raila Odinga had earlier in the year announced elections will only be held after the completion of the current Kenyan Premier League season to avoid disrupting the rhythm of the playing unit on the pitch.
The seasoned lawyer has been at the helm of the club for the last eight years, having first risen to the helm in 2008.
His tenure however, is under threat from new blood with Dan Oketch and former Secretary General Chris Omondi among the front runners to unseat Rachier.
