Paul Saint Tergat elected new Nock boss

Distance running legend Paul Tergat is the new National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) president after he was elected unopposed during the Elective General Assembly held on Friday.

The former World Marathon record holder and five-time IAAF World Cross Country champion rose to the presidency after the General Assembly rejected the nomination of his only challenger for the seat, Peter Muya.
Tergat now succeeds athletics  Kipchpge Keino who had served the national body for close to two decades.

“Since Paul Tergat is unopposed, he is now the new president of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya,” said Omweri Angima, an independent referee appointed to oversee the Kenya elections by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Tergat, a double Olympic 10,000m silver medallist, former marathon world record holder and five-time world cross-country champion announced his candidacy in March.

The 48-year-old will hope to revive and renew the scandal-hit National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) which was rocked by corruption and mismanagement during Kenya’s appearance at the Rio Olympics and has had its IOC funding frozen over governance concerns.

“I shall flourish the relationship to work together as a team to ensure that our sports goes forward.

“My aim is to ensure that Kenya is a full time sport nation and I promise to make the welfare of the athletes my first priority. I will ensure that only relevant people accompany them to the global events,” said the five time IAAF World Cross Country champion.

Tergat also pledged to fight doping menace  in the country and to protect the sanity of the sport.

“I urge all the athletes to perfom well now that we are going to equip them with all they want. Including assisting in early qualifications for the forth coming 2018 Commonwealth Games, ” added the new Nock boss.

Several officials were jailed for various offences after the 2016 Olympics, including stealing team uniforms.

Former NOCK chief Kipchoge Keino, who was heavily criticised over Rio, did not attempt to keep his seat leaving Tergat the only candidate for the post.

Friday’s elections were postponed from May and are the first in which the NOCK executive committee did not control the process.

From the previous regime, only Francis Kinyili Paul retained his position as the Secretary General.

Shadrack Maluki  of Kenya Judo Federation clinched the first vice president position after garnering 10 votes against Nahashon Randiek’s nine in what was one of the closest battles.

Long-serving chair of the Kenya Volley Ball Waithaka Kioni upset Athletics Kenya (AK) boss Lt. General (Rtd.) Jackson Tuwei in a landslide 13 – 6.

The Kenya Table Tennis Federation (KTTF) boss Andrew Mudibo lost to incumbent FK Paul as his colleague Francis Mutuku successfully took on Football Kenya Federation’s Timothy Nabea. Mutuku scored a total of 14 while Nabea had only four votes.

Eliud Kariuki clinched the Treasurer’s post and will be deputised by Dr Paul Rwambo of Kenya Golf Federation.

Paurvi Rawal of  Kenya Tennis Federation will serve as the Woman Represantative. Humphrey Kayange and Helen Obiri were declared the male and female athlete representative since they were also unopposed.

NOCK’s  NEW LINE -UP

President

Paul Tergat

First deputy president

Shadrack MalukI

Second Deputy vice President

Waithaka  Kioni

Secretary General

Francis Paul

Deputy Secretary

Francis Mutuku.

Treasurer

Anthony Kariuki

Deputy Treasurer

Paul Rwambo

Committee Members

Shoaib Abdulgani, Paul Otula, Winnie Kamau

Women representative

Paurvi Rawal

Athletes’ representative

Humphrey Kayange

Hellen Obiri

Additional reporting by AFP