Cricket Kenya postpones elections as Board stamps authority

The Cricket Kenya Board has postponed its Special General Meeting (SGM) that was scheduled for this Sunday, as the majority in the governing body moved to stamp their executive authority.

The postponement of the meeting effectively defers the planned elections of the federation’s vice chairman, which was the sole agenda of the gathering.

According to a new timetable, the SGM will now take place on October 19.

Cricket Kenya Chief Executive Officer Ronald Bukusi explained that the shift in dates was occasioned by delays in the remittances of funds from their global governance body, the International Cricket Council.

"This change has been necessitated by a delay in the remittances of funds from the International Cricket Council (ICC), which is still finalizing its audit of Cricket Kenya Accounts due to its controlled funding status,” Bukusi said in a notice to Council members. 

Bukusi is the secretary of the Independent Election Panel that the Cricket Kenya Board appointed in July to spearhead the polls. 

The CEO’s communication comes following a decision by six of the eight board members.

This majority bloc has in recent weeks asserted itself in directing the affairs of Cricket Kenya as it seeks to streamline operations. 

Two of the board members led by Chairman Manoj Patel—who was recently stripped of his executive powers through a vote of no confidence—has maintained that the elections should proceed as initially scheduled. 

Patel is supported by acting Treasurer Kennedy Obuya. 

The majority faction, however, has dismissed the dissent, urging delegates to disregard any parallel communication and instead prepare for the October vote.

“The Independent Election Panel revised the election timetable to reflect the postponement of the SGM,” the electoral team clarified in its latest bulletin, detailing the new election timetable.

It further underscored that only properly accredited delegates will be allowed to vote, with a strict verification process requiring the submission of national identity cards by representatives from the 24 affiliated counties.

The deadline for submission has been set for Friday, October 3, to allow time for vetting and publication of the delegate list.

The six board members aligned in the majority are Pearlyne Omamo, Mary Maina, Beryl Oyugi, Pauline Njeri, Thomas Odoyo, and Tariq Iqbal. 

Their recent decisions include last week’s termination of a contract with Dubai-India-based firm Arena of Sports (AOS), effectively halting a controversial T20 League project. 

That tournament was being championed by Chairman Patel and Obuya. In most federations such as Cricket Kenya, contentious board decisions are reached through a majority vote. 

The Independent Election Panel overseeing the vice chair election is chaired by Aggrey Chebeda. Other members includes advocate and elections expert Sarah Ochwada, engineer and sports administrator Sadik Makii, Football Kenya Federation executive committee member Kerubo Momanyi, and global health advisor Sheila Bosire.

In a further bid to reinforce governance, the board has also constituted an Internal and Disciplinary Committee tasked with resolving disputes within the federation.

The committee, chaired by veteran sports administrator Zack Oloo, will hear grievances from board members, council delegates, players, and other cricket stakeholders.

"All disputes should be referred to the Committee by submitting a concise written statement of the grievances, addressed to the chairperson,” the board directed in its communication.