Former director Sasha Mutai.

Rugby wrangles persist as KRU dismiss Mutai’s ‘installation’

Leadership wrangles at Kenya Rugby Union took a fresh twist when former director Sasha Mutai was allegedly installed as the new chairman by a splinter group in a controversial Special General Meeting on Tuesday.
The SGM, called for by Stromers RFC—associated with former KRU bigwigs—was halted by the Kisumu Chief Magistrate Court, but went ahead with social media statements proclaiming Mutai as the new chairman.
However, Gabriel Ouko who was appointed chairman by the KRU board after the resignation of Mwangi Muthee last December, rubbished the claims, saying the SGM was not properly constituted in the first place and a court of law had also stopped it.
“It is unfortunate that rugby in this country can be associated with such negativity. The antics do not augur well with our ideals neither do they help any course. We will proceed with our duties as a union and plan the AGM next month as required by the law,” said Ouko.
KRU also dismissed the SGM saying: “We would like to clarify that the meeting was improper as per the KRU constitution and in light of a court order prohibiting it and therefore any decision made at that meeting were unconstitutional.
The bonafide Board of Directors is still in office and the Union’s operations continue as usual.” Stromers had earlier petitioned for the SGM but Kisumu RFC secretary Fredrick Maube obtained a court order barring the same on Tuesday morning.
Mutai’s phone went unanswered when contacted over the same. Mutai who was deposed by Philip Jalang’o in a tight election last year served as the vice chairman of the union and director of Bamburi Super Series tournament.
The attempted ‘coup’ comes at a crucial moment when the union is due to hold negotiations with sponsors Safaricom amid talks of a fallout between KRU and its key financiers. Ouko admitted that such wrangles might cause problems to the union.