What newly elected NOC-K officials must do for local sport

My belated congratulations to the newly-elected officials of the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K), who came into office late last week in an exercise that passed largely without incident.

In a way, though, the much-awaited polls were an anti-climax of sorts as the fireworks that had been expected to fly in a number of seats that were up for grabs failed to ignite.

There were no surprises to speak of as practically all the incumbents, led by committee’s president Paul Tergat, who was elected unopposed for a second and final term, swept the boards. 

The same scenario played itself out in the positions for First and Second Deputy Presidents with Kenya Judo Federation President Shadrack Maluki and long-serving Kenya Volleyball Federation President Waithaka Kioni breaking no sweat as they romped back to their respective offices.

Even the much-touted epic showdown in the Secretary General’s post turned out into a drab contest as Francis Mutuku, who had been holding the position in an acting capacity, easily trounced Kenya Table Tennis Association President Andrew Mudibo and his predecessor Francis Kinyili Paul.

Also re-elected into office was Kenya Amateur Weightlifting Association chairman Anthony Kariuki (Treasurer), Kenyan Basketball Federation chairman Paul Otula (Executive Committee member) and retired Kenya sevens rugby skipper Humphrey Kayange alongside the reigning 5,000m world champion Hellen Obiri, who got a second mandate as the athletes’ representatives.

The dull contests notwithstanding, it was encouraging that all the contestants conducted themselves with decorum and civility during the brief campaign period through to the polling exercise and the declaration of the winners. 

Now, with the elections done and dusted, the hard work begins for Tergat and his not so new team. So much is expected of the newly-elected NOC-K officials, a majority of whom are seasoned sports administrators with many years’ experience as heads of their respective federations and associations.

Some introspection and interrogation of Team Kenya’s performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with view of an improved outing at the Paris Games in about three years time wouldn’t be a bad starting point for the new office.

Still on matters of the Olympics, isn’t it high time NOC-K laid down a long-term strategy to have the country looking beyond track and field athletes to bring home the medals at the quadrennial global games? 

Granted, over the years, our track and road athletes have been peerless, not just at the Olympic Games, but also at all major world championships. That said, it is worrying that other disciplines, such as boxing and hockey, where once upon a time Kenya used to be a formidable force have since receded to the backwaters of global events.

While KVF has in recent years done a great job in ensuring that Kenyan teams, particularly the national women side Malkia Strikers, regularly compete at the highest global level, a lot more still needs to be done to ensure we scale greater heights in the sport. 

We could go on and on about other sports that are crying out for attention in the country. The bottom line? The new NOC-K office must rethink its mandate in elevating the standards of sports in the country.