Gor Mahia polls: Membership registration closes on March 31
Gor Mahia fans cheer on their side during their Football Kenya Federation Premeir League match.
What you need to know:
- Seven days ago, the club unveiled its electoral board, naming sports administrator Githu Wahome as the chairperson. The board also includes Professor Ben Sihanya, Professor Omondi Oketch, Henry Ogoye, and Rose Lillian as members.
Individuals intending to vote in the forthcoming Gor Mahia elections have until March 31 to register as club members.
The highly anticipated polls, scheduled for April 13 at the Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium, will be preceded by the club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The elections will see members vote for four key positions—chairman, vice chairman, secretary general, and treasurer. These are the only positions up for grabs after Gor Mahia’s 2019 Constitution trimmed the club’s leadership structure from 12 positions to four, streamlining management operations.
In a bid to ensure a free and fair process, the club’s Executive Committee has confirmed that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will oversee the elections.
To register as a Gor Mahia member, individuals must pay a registration fee of Sh1,200. Current Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier, who has been at the helm since 2009, will be seeking a final term in office.
He faces stiff competition from current treasurer Dolphina Odhiambo. Rachier emphasised the importance of registration and reiterated his long-term vision for the club.
“Let our fans register, as I will be defending my seat, I promise to build a stadium, which is a dream I have been harbouring for so long. Even if we can’t get our land at Kasarani, then we can buy land and build a modern facility,” said Rachier on Monday.
Dolphina, however, has raised concerns about the composition of the electoral board, particularly the inclusion of Kenya Airports Authority Managing Director Henry Ogoye.
“Why Ogoye all the time? Why must it be him when he was there in 2020? I’m also not comfortable with Lillian and the election being held on the same day as the AGM,” she protested.
“I think the AGM would be used to approve the electoral board, so who has approved the board? I’m ready for the battle, but these are issues that must be addressed first,” she added.
The Secretary general’s seat will see the incumbent, Sam Ochola, face former Kathiani High School Principal, Canor Arum.
The vice chairman position has also drawn multiple candidates, with current vice chairman Francis Wasuna defending his post against his 2020 rival and former club treasurer, Sally Bollo., and Victor Mbaka.
The treasurer position is proving to be equally competitive, with current Executive Committee Member Gerphas Okuku leading a three-way contest against Dalmas Philip Nyakwana and Migono Migono.
Seven days ago, the club unveiled its electoral board, naming sports administrator Githu Wahome as the chairperson. The board also includes Professor Ben Sihanya, Professor Omondi Oketch, Henry Ogoye, and Rose Lillian as members.