Tergat faces fight for top seat Nock sets polls date

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) has called for fresh nominations ahead of the September 29 Elective General Assembly in a scheme that is likely to present a new candidate for the national body’s presidential seat.

Former World Marathon record holder and five-time World Cross Country champion Paul Tergat was unopposed for Nock’s top seat and was certain to become the next president before a court order barred the May 5 elections.

Nock could face sanctions from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should the governing body interpret Tuesday’s move to call for fresh nominations as a show of defiance.

In a set of guidelines sent earlier, the IOC had directed Nock to continue with the adjourned Elective General Assembly with all circumstances as were when it was aborted held constant.

But Nock seem to have chosen a different path having also included contentious federations that now puts a total of 23 votes up for grabs. Despite all this, Nock believe they have not gone against the wishes of the IOC.

“This is going to allow those who had not handed in their nominations to do so. Those had done it earlier do not need to redo the entire process,” Nock’s first vice-president Ben Ekumbo said.

The four federations – Taekwondo Association, Rowing and Canoeing, Badminton and Cycling – had previously been barred from voting after presenting warring factions hence denied the certificate of registration.

Ekumbo later contradicted himself urging the four federation’s to sort their issues amicably adding that they cannot interfere with court matters.

During the Extra Ordinary Meeting, it was agreed that the Centre for Mulitparty for Democracy (CMD) will be retained as the electoral body that will oversee the exercise.

Nock Assistant Secretary Stephen Soi however warned they will give the CMD ‘proper’ rules of engagement after ‘exceeding their mandate last time’.

“We respect IOC’s advise but we are going to stand with the Nock constitution. The General Assembly is the supreme organ of Nock and given the powers in  article 17.6 to make determination on any matter or any nomination,” Soi said.

Some of the Affiliate federation members were happy that Nock had finally set a date for the elections but maintained that there will be no fresh nominations.