Federations resist move to disband Nock, Wario sticks to his guns

Federations under the National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) umbrella resisted the move to disband the organisation as they pushed for new leadership and a change of its constitution on Monday.

The federation chiefs were speaking during a stakeholder’s meeting convened by embattled Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and the Arts, Dr. Hassan Wario following his move to dissolve the body last week in the aftermath of the Rio 2016 Olympics fiasco but the minister remained adamant the decision would not be reversed.

Initially, Wario had declined the presence of the media at the gathering held at the Indoor Gymnasium of Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani but relented after they argued they were key stakeholders in the process of finding a lasting solution to the mess presided over by officials during the 31st edition of the Olympics.

“There are people who have been holding on the top seat in the federation for over 30 years and are quick to point fingers at others. You should ask yourselves what are you doing to the federation and deal with it honestly.

“Nock is disbanded and will remain like that for the sake of us getting some sanity. We shall get to the root cause of the issue and deal will it and if I’m the problem, then its okay,” the Minister said in his address.

He denied he had three body guards at the 2016 Rio Olympics saying only one travelled and he could prove it as he directed the Sports Registrar to clamp down on federations that had not complied with the Sports Act of 2013.

“While we are doing the Nock constitution also clean up yours in the federations. We will go to IOC to explain ourselves,” the minister underscored on the threat of an Olympics ban from the International Olympics Committee following the move to disperse the local body.

“The Sports Act was my Bible. I had five institutions to set up and I set up six of them, Sports Registrar, Sports Tribunal, Sports Kenya, Kenya Academy of Sports, Sports Fund and the Anti Doping Agency of Kenya but we still got sticky issues with the Sports Lottery.

“There is too much politics in our federations and we are slowly politicizing our athletes which is affecting their performance and discipline,” Wario stated.

Athletics Kenya (AK) President, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jack Tuwei detailed how they were ostracised from management of the track and field team that won Kenya all her 13 medals from Rio in a record performance (six gold, six silver and a bronze) at the Olympics.

“There are a notion that there is a problem between Nock and AK which affects performance. During London Olympics, Nock wanted the team to train in Bristol and during Rio we wanted to know if they have a training venue and we also agreed to hold Trials in Eldoret

“But when we went to Eldoret to visit the venue for the Trials, we found out that Nock had already set a meeting and came to an agreement with the three Governors in our absence. They also agreed on the program without us,” the AK boss charged.

“Nock also prevented us from selecting the medics and the physiotherapist.  During the camping there was a problem with the kitting. We are not aware when or how it was designed and agreed on.

“We in AK were not allowed to visit the athletes, so we did not know what was going on even when the camp was being opened there was no single representative from AK. Paul Mutwii (AK vice-president) was left at the airport. Surely the athletes thought we have abandoned them,” Tuwei lamented.

“Departures were a total mess. We were not informed who is travelling on which date and their arrangements. Over 15 athletes had to make their own arrangements while Eliud Kipchoge (marathon men champion) had to hike a lift from the Uganda team from the airport to the village. Same thing happened in their arrivals in Kenya,” the retired army chief further complained.

He claimed some coaches seconded to the country’s track and field team were forced to live outside the Olympics Village and even he was given a coach’s accreditation badge.

“We also had a problem with Nkanata who had requested his accreditation to be sent to him but it did not get to him in time and he arrived two hours before his race,” Tuwei said of American based men 200m sprinter, Carvin Nkanata, who also missed the competition as a result of bungling Nock officials.

The AK boss however, said the sideshows should not deflect from the record performance for Team Kenya as he told the plenary 36 Kenyan born runners competed for other nations in Brazil, including three medallists, Ruth Jebet (gold) and Eunice Kirwa (silver) of Bahrain and Paul Kipkemboi Chelimo (silver) for USA.

“We need to look at the banning of Nock as a body, is it good or bad. We should go for the individuals who were identified in the Rio 2016 Fiasco. We need to read both the Sports Act and The Olympics Charter to understand the consequences. IAAF did not suspend AK but the individuals who were identified with issues,” Tuwei advised.

Kenya Volleyball Federation chairman, Waithaka Kioni argued the meeting should have taken place long ago.

“We in the volleyball federation we have suffered very much under Nock and some very powerful officials who forget they were selected to serve the athletes. They have become hard headed and we would like to see them out too,” he added.

-New constitution-

His Boxing Association of Kenya chief, John Kameta, who was removed from the travelling list to Brazil, highlighted his plight.

“I’m asking all federations to move swiftly to come up with a solution in this situation and streamline Nock. It is the only federation without a website and that is where we should start,” he added.

Kenya Hockey Union vice-chairperson and veteran sports journalist, Elynah Shiveka, called for a Special General Meeting to pass a new constitution and kick out Nock officials.

“The Minister and the Government has to do what they have to do. Already we have individuals who have been taken to court already the integrity is questionable and we should hold an AGM,” she added.

Former Kenya Rugby Union boss, Mwangi Muthee, who is the CEO of Nairobi 2017 IAAF World Under-17 Championships, noted Sports Kenya should not be given the mandate to take charge of Nock affairs.

“When we deliberate let us not crucify each other, we all pointing figures to Nock. As federation we need to honest and be democrats. Brand new leadership is a must for Nock let’s not fear to reform it if we have a clear leadership from the top it will trickle down to the federations.

“Sports Kenya has got no business in being Nock’s midwife. We need reforms and we need to be straight in our dealings. We are going to host the biggest event next year under IAAF and we urgently need to resolve all pending issues so that we can be successful,” he underscored.

Lilian Alubi (Netball), Duncan Chemiryo (Judo) and Patrick Muya (swimming) are other bosses of local governing bodies that gave their views.

“We had a problem with the judoka who was sent (Kiplangat Sang). He did not have an idea on what was going on in the world of Judo and that is why he was beaten on simple mistakes. He also does not have a team and not sure of how he was selected,” Chemiryo told.

-Mike Okinyi also contributed to this report