The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) first deputy president Shadrack Maluki (left) and NOC-K secretary general Francis Mutuku addressing the media at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on May 25, 2022.
Former international judoka Shadrack Maluki and former tennis player Francis Mutuku face-off for the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) presidency in one of the most eagerly awaited elections of the sports body.
The elections will be held at Hyatt Hotel, Westlands, Nairobi today and appear too close to call.
Maluki and Mutuku are seeking to replace legendary distance runner Paul Tergat, who has served a full term of eight years.
The elections were originally to have taken place on April 24 this year but aborted after four federations failed to agree on who between the chairman and secretary should cast the vote in line with a court ruling.
Maluki is the outgoing NOC-K first deputy president, Kenya Judo Federation (KJF) president, and Africa Judo Union chairman.
Mutuku is the outgoing NOC-K secretary general and is Tennis Kenya's first vice president.
Mutuku is also the Association of National Olympic Committees (Anoca) Zone V secretary general and member of the Task Force set by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports to review the Legislative Framework for Sport and Policy in Kenya.
Both camps exuded confidence in carrying the day. Mutuku’s camp said they were assured of at least nine votes for boxing, tennis, shooting, weightlifting, wrestling, rugby, squash, athlete and women representatives.
Maluki’s camp said they already had nine votes in their pocket namely athletics, cycling, hockey, judo, softball, baseball, rowing, fencing and athlete representative.
The elections had been bogged down by eight cases at the Sports Dispute Tribunal and the High Court. The Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) threw away seven of the cases.
The tribunal instructed the process to continue and that the aggrieved federations adhere to the NOC-K Constitution, 2025 Elections Rules and Regulations, and Sports Act of 2016.
Some 29 delegates will decide the next NOC-K office with 13 positions up for grabs.
From left: National Olympic Committee of Kenya Secretary General Francis Mutuku, President Paul Tergat and First Deputy President Shadrack Maluki during a Special General Meeting in Nairobi on March 12, 2025.
Votes will be cast by the 25 federations affiliated to NOC-K and four special category members. They are International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Paul Tergat, Women Representative Paurvi Rawal and Athletes Representatives Humphrey Kayange and Hellen Obiri.
However, the votes of the Kenya Taekwondo Federation (KTF), Kenya Triathlon Federation (KTF), Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) and Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) have been blacklisted for non-compliant.
The sports tribunal yesterday nullified Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) president Andrew Mudibo’s candidature as secretary general and ruled that the body’s office wasn’t duly registered.
Allan Mola in his ruling dated June 17, 2025, stated that KTTA should form an Interim Management Committee of individuals not previously holding office for more than eight years.
The tribunal directed that the committee organise an Annual General Meeting and oversee fresh elections within 60 days.
Daniel Mungai sought legal redress at SDT on May 31, 2025, indicating that KTTA wasn’t duly registered under the Sports Act 2013 and the Sports Registrar Regulation, 2016.
National Olympics Committee of Kenya President Paul Tergat (centre) with Secretary General Francis Mutuku (left) and Vice President Shadrack Maluki during their Annual General Meeting in Nairobi on December 10, 2024.
Mola noted that KTTA was only issued with a certificate on June 3, 2025, more than a decade after the transition period, suspiciously, only after the present dispute was brought before SDT.
As it stands, John Ogolla is the only candidate standing for the secretary-general post.
It has also emerged that Shoaib Vayani, who was to vie as treasurer, has stepped down due to health reasons.
It leaves an independent candidate, Moses Mbuthia and Francis Chege to battle it out for the position.
The April 24 elections were aborted after several federations failed to agree on which representative was to vote.
However, the 2025 Elections Rules and Regulations that NOC-K passed clearly stated that both the chairman and secretary must sign the letter endorsing the person who will cast the federation’s vote.
It remains to be seen if the process today will be as smooth as Kenya awaits the next NOC-K office.
