Omondi concedes defeat, backs Rachier for reforms

Former Gor Mahia chairmanship candidate Chris Omondi has conceded defeat to Ambrose Rachier, striking a hopeful tone as he ended his quest for the top post.

Omondi who had until Sunday been a stern critic of Rachier’s stewardship played a different tune in the wake of the long-serving official’s landslide win on Sunday at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium as the club finally held its elections that had twice been postponed.

Omondi who finished third in the race for the position with 157 votes, behind Dan Oketch (220) congratulated Rachier (570) and backed the new office to bring the much needed management reforms at the club.

“It is good that we don’t concentrate on what went wrong in the process. The best thing is that the elections are over and the club can continue with the projects that matter. The members have spoken and shown they are really yearning for change, I hope the chairman will build on the goodwill that the fans have shown today.

“I will not challenge the result. The club is bigger than me and we only now have to work together to build Gor Mahia,” Omondi, a former Secretary General at the club, told Citizen Digital.

Despite missing on the top seat, Omondi believes the new blood in the executive will foster change as he envisaged.

“I trust that the five who have gone into the executive will help push our agenda which is to make this club great as it should be. It is evident by the number of new faces in the team that people yearned for change.

“I have always served Gor whether in or out of office, and I will continue supporting my best project of the youth team,” Omondi added.

Oketch, who was 350 votes shy of Rachier’s total tally was too crestfallen to speak to media and left immediately as the latter’s supporters broke into songs celebrating the win.

A section of the fans celebrating in the arena called Rachier ‘Mugabe’, following his statements earlier in the day that “let Mugabe return to office again,” though jokingly.

Self-proclaimed Gor Mahia number one fan Jared Obonyo, popularly known as Jaro Soja congratulated Rachier for winning and the members and fans for the peaceful polls, saying the same spirit should continue in their matches during the 2017 season.

“I am happy that there were no incidences throughout the day. I really advocated for peaceful elections and we have surely silenced our critics who foresaw chaos.

“For the contestants, both losers and winners, we have something to celebrate. I urge all to join hands for the good of the club now that politicking is over,” he charged.

Rachier’s immediate task will be to steer K’Ogalo back to its title-winning ways after the 15-time Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions ended their 2016 campaign without a trophy.