KHU given court clearance ahead of AGM, poll

The Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) has been cleared to proceed with their planned Annual General Meeting that will culminate in the election of new officials on Saturday.

A court petition filed by the Hockey Federation of Kenya (HFK) through its vice-chair George Jalang’o on Monday was thrown out on Thursday paving way for KHU to conduct the polls as the only recognized national body for the sport.

In their case, HFK had arguing that they were the only body legally registered and not KHU and on his two prayers submitted to the High Court Jalang’o sort orders to:

1. Order a temporary injunction restraining KHU from conducting their AGM
2. To compel KHU to produce before the court certified copies of annual audited financial reports from 2013 to date, full list of registered office bearers as per the constitution and a copy of constitution.

However, in the ruling delivered by High Court judge Joseph Sergon, the prayers were dismissed where in the first prayer the judge claimed that Jalang’o failed the requisite legal capacity because he is not a member of KHU.

On the second prayer which was as well dismissed, Sergon stated that Jalang’o was not entitled to the be given the documents he had asked for since he was not a member or an official of KHU.

Thus the eventual ruling verdict was that the case was dismissed with cost.

In the case, Attorney General  Prof. Githu Muigai and Sports Cabinet Secretary Dr Hassan Wario were mentioned as first respondents with the Ministry of Sports as the second respondent.

Third respondent was the Sports Registrar Rosemary Wasike with the KHU mentioned as an interested party.

The two bodies (HFK and KHU) have had cold relationships owing to the supremacy battle on which of the two is duly and legally registered.

The new development comes as a sigh of relief for KHU as they prepare to elect a new leadership after the previous four-year tenure elapsed last December.

A total of 19 contestants will be eyeing the nine positions including that of the chairman where the outgoing chair Rtd.  Colonel Nashion Randiek will have to settle it out with Inderjit Singh Matharu of Nairobi Simba to retain his seat.

In the position of Secretary General, Nairobi Hockey Association executive Director Tom Play will battle with Wyckoff Momanyi for the post.

Other posts up for grabs include: Deputy President,  Deputy Secretary General, Treasurer,  Deputy Treasurer,  Match and Fixtures Secretary,  Deputy Match and Fixtures secretary,  and Public Relation Officer.

The elections will be held at the Parkland Sports Club and to be overseen by the Center for Sports Law (CSL).