Suspended Cricket Kenya treasurer challenges legality of weekend AGM

A legal showdown is looming as suspended Cricket Kenya treasurer Kalpesh Solanki moves to challenge what he terms an "unlawful and illegal" Annual General Meeting (AGM) convened over the weekend.

The matter is set to be mentioned in court on Tuesday for further directions.

Solanki, who has been entangled in a leadership wrangle within the national cricket body, argues that the AGM — during which a new treasurer was purportedly elected — was held in defiance of court orders.

His lawyer, Danstan Omari, on Monday told Justice Antony Mrima that the Cricket Kenya board failed to disclose critical information to the court regarding a pending tribunal case that had earlier blocked Solanki’s removal from office.

The High Court had on May 19 suspended the implementation of a Sports Disputes Tribunal decision that reinstated Solanki, pending an appeal.

However, Solanki claims that Cricket Kenya not only filed the appeal but went ahead to schedule and conduct a Special General Meeting (SGM) on May 24 — actions he says were not authorized by the court.

“Despite clear directions from this Honourable Court staying execution of the tribunal’s decision, the board convened an SGM with key agenda items directly involving my former role as treasurer,” court documents state.

The meeting, held at Ruaraka Sports Club, reportedly included agenda items such as the ratification of Solanki’s suspension and the approval of financial reports for the 2023-2024 fiscal year — a period during which Solanki was still serving in office.

Solanki maintains that holding the meeting in his absence was procedurally flawed and prejudicial, especially given the focus on his position and responsibilities.

He is seeking a court declaration that all resolutions passed during the SGM be nullified until a substantive ruling is made on the tribunal’s decision.

The case will be mentioned on Tuesday, as stakeholders await the court’s next steps.