IOC backs besieged Kipchoge Keino to lead Nock reforms

The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has backed the under fire National Olympics Committee-Kenya boss, Dr. Kipchoge Keino and his Executive to spearhead reforms and organise free and fair elections following the Rio 2016 fiasco.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Head of Institutional Relations and Governance, Jerome Poivey on Friday, following a ‘successful’ joint meeting between the IOC, Nock and the Ministry of Sports at their headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Officials led by Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Hassan Wario who disbanded Nock last month and Keino travelled for a way forward to resolve the impasse that threatened to have Kenya banned from the next Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The agreement thrashed out is however, silent on the fate of Nock officials facing charges in court related to mismanagement of Team Kenya to Rio 2016 as well as theft of missing kit from sponsors Nike in the aftermath of the scandal that marred the country’s best ever performance at the Olympics.

IOC expects the reform process that will involve all affiliated federations to be concluded before December 31, 2016 whereupon the agreement will be sent to them for approval before elections are held.

“Representatives of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) met today (Friday) at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne with a delegation from the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock), headed by Mr Kipchoge Keino, and a delegation from the Ministry of Sports, headed by Mr Hassan Wario Arero, to review the current issues affecting the Nock and find appropriate solutions in accordance with the principles and rules that govern the Olympic Movement,” the communication outlined.

“The meeting was extremely constructive and, through fruitful and open dialogue, allowed for all parties to better understand the situation and clarify any misunderstanding which may have caused the current issues.

“In addition, all parties appreciated the excellent results of the Kenyan delegation and athletes at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and recognised the need to resolve the current situation in the interests of sport and the athletes in Kenya,” Jerome underscored.

The IOC roadmap will see Nock through its current President, Kipchoge convene an Extraordinary General Assembly, in strict accordance with the Constitution currently in force and the Olympic Charter.

This meeting will report on the outcomes of the joint meeting in Lausanne, address and clarify any issue raised in relation to the management of the Nock delegation for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 considering the ongoing investigation process.

It will also review and update the Nock Constitution currently in force, as necessary, and submit the proposed amendments to the IOC for approval in accordance with the Olympic Charter and agree on the process leading to the Nock quadrennial elections.

“Once this first step is completed, the Nock will convene its Elective General Assembly and conduct free and fair elections of the members of the Nock Executive Board in accordance with the newly approved Nock Constitution.

“The whole process will be completed by the end of this year (i.e. by 31 December 2016), and will be placed under the full supervision of the IOC, in close coordination with the Nock and the Ministry of Sports,” the IOC stated.

“All parties will work hand in hand to implement this process in good faith and to ensure sustainable cooperation between the Nock (including all national federations) and the Government of Kenya for the benefit of sport and the athletes of the country, with the full support of the international sports organisations concerned,” the communication emphasised.

The move invalidates the Nock Interim Management Committee installed following a meeting attended by federations bosses last Saturday where Kenya Volleyball Federation chairman, Waithaka Kioni, was appointed interim chair where 20 or the 21 local governing bodies were represented.

Nock First Vice-Chairman, Pius Ochieng, Secretary General, Francis Kinyili Paul, Treasurer Fridah Shiroya and Executive Officer, Stephen arap Soi who was also the Head of Mission for Team Kenya at Rio 2016 are expected back in court on Monday for the mention of the cases facing them related to the Olympics scam.

They are out on a Ksh200,000 bond each with officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations also quizzing Olympics Laureate Kipchoge and deputy Head of Mission, James Chacha, who were not charged in the purge.