Okatch bets on new constitution to end incessant KRU wrangles

Speaking during her first media briefing since she took over following Sasha Mutai’s resignation two weeks ago, Okatch emphasized a renewed focus on building trust within the union.

Central to her vision is a new KRU constitution that will decentralize power from the board and bring broader stakeholder involvement into union affairs.

“Our new constitution will take away power from the board and will tend to cascade it down the line and we hope our stakeholders and the media will help us highlight these reforms in the next 60 days,” said Okatch.

In a major announcement for youth rugby development, Okatch revealed that the Eric Shirley Shield Cup has officially been approved for a return, with competition set to resume next season.

The tournament will exclusively feature under-20 sides from Kenya Cup clubs—a move aimed at reviving talent development structures and addressing recent struggles by the national U20 team, Chipu.

“This will be a critical step in bridging the gap between school rugby and the senior level. It gives our young players meaningful competition and prepares them for the future,” she added.

She also addressed allegations of misappropriation of funds within the union, confirming that the entire KRU board has been summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and she pledged full cooperation to ensure transparency and accountability.

“There is nothing to hide. We are ready to work closely with the authorities to restore public confidence in the union,” she stated.

Although the board is yet to hold its first meeting under her leadership, with sessions typically held every second Monday of the month, Okatch said one of the immediate priorities will be replacing outgoing non-executive director Nishi Van Hoek who tendered her resignation with her term lapsing on Tuesday.