NOC-K polls called off again as Maluki and Co. accuse SDT of bias

Justice Reuben Nyakundi, in a ruling delivered on June 19, issued a temporary injunction halting the elections pending an inter partes hearing on June 23, following a petition filed  by Jocelyne Leah Nyambura, Francis Paul, Andrew Mudibo, and the Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA).

“In the alternative, pending hearing and determination of the application, a temporary injunction is issued suspending the NOCK Executive Committee Election scheduled to take place on 19.6.2025,” read part of the court order.

This even as Team New Dawn, led by Shadrack Maluki who is seeking to succeed outgoing president Paul Tergat, accused the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) judge Allan Mola of bias and irresponsibility in handling cases against them.

Just hours to the delayed elections, SDT had locked out Andrew Mudibo­—who is under Maluki camp—from contesting for the Secretary General post as his parent federation, KTTA, was not a legally registered association and could not nominate him for the post.

In a media statement read by Mudibo, Team New Dawn sharply criticized the SDT for what they termed as a “pattern of legal bias, procedural manipulation, and undue suppression.”

Maluki, the first NOC-K deputy president, raised alarm over key decisions being made by a single judge in sensitive cases against their umbrella without the required quorum.

“Hon. Allan Mola dismissed the Appeal on grounds of prematurity yet in previous rulings he himself had failed to compel compliance by the same Electoral Congress.”

He also cited a systematic dismissal of claims by federations aligned to the New Dawn Coalition, questioning the impartiality of the tribunal after cases  involving Triathlon, Handball, and 14 other federations, were all decided solely by Mola.

“Inconsistent rulings regarding the role of the Electoral Congress and eligibility of appeals which created a procedural trap, blocked access to justice “bounced aggrieved federations from one forum to another with no resolution.”

Outgoing Secretary General and presidential aspirant Francis Mutuku however dispelled allegations raised by his opponents arguing that the process is a political tussle.

“We understand this is a political process and we understand some parties would want to explore all avenues of justice. We remain calm and await the decision of the courts in the next two days or so.”

He also confirmed the need to solve the impasse and wrangles for the benefit of each and every stakeholder with the highly anticipated and busy Olympic calendar schedule at stake.

“Our president has been in touch with the top leadership of the International Olympic Committee and we would present our report on Saturday, everything is running well in the Committee safe for elections an issue we hope to be done with soon”

With both the judiciary and Tribunal now embroiled in the escalating standoff, attention turns to the June 23 hearing that could determine the legitimacy and future of NOC-K’s leadership.

The polls were initially scheduled for April 23 but did not take place after four federations — Kenya Triathlon Federation (KTF), Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF), Kenya Handball Federation (KHF), Taekwondo Federation of Kenya (TFK) —failed to agree on who among their officials were to carry their votes for each one of them.