High Court halts National Olympic Committee of Kenya elections
In April, the High Court and the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) allowed NOC-K to go ahead with its elections after four sports federations, who had been left out, appealed the decision.
The High Court has issued a temporary order stopping the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) elections, which were due to take place on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
The decision comes after four individuals moved to court challenging the electoral process.
More To Read
- Former CJ David Maraga declares 2027 presidential bid, promises integrity-led leadership
- IEBC seeks Sh57.4 billion for 2027 polls amidst budgetary concerns
- MPs reintroduce criminal penalties for elections held in ungazetted polling stations
- Ruto defies court order, appoints new IEBC chair Erastus Ethekon, six commissioners
- Court sets June 23 hearing for petition blocking IEBC nominees' swearing-in over flawed process
- Over 60 tenders issued by IEBC since 2023 despite leadership vacuum - report
The application, filed under a certificate of urgency on June 18 by Joycelene Leah Nyambura, Francis Paul, Andrew Mudibo, and the Kenya Table Tennis Association, prompted Justice Reuben Nyakundi to intervene.
In their lawsuit, the petitioners sued the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which had been tasked with supervising the elections, two returning officers, NOC-K, Kenya Triathlon Federation Secretary-General Ndiritu Gikaria and Sports Registrar Rose Wasike.
Justice Nyakundi, while granting the suspension, stated that the claims raised by the petitioners warranted a judicial probe.
He directed that all respondents be formally served with the court documents ahead of the inter-party hearing set for June 23, 2025.
He further cautioned that failure to comply with the court's directive could lead to serious legal consequences.
"I am satisfied the petitioners have an arguable case. Take notice that any disobedience or non-observance of the order of the court served herewith will result in penal consequences to you and any other person(s)," Justice Nyakundi ruled.
In April, the High Court and the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) allowed NOC-K to go ahead with its elections after four sports federations, who had been left out, appealed the decision.
Milimani High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the Kenya Taekwondo Federation, Kenya Rugby Union, Kenya Volleyball Federation, and Kenya Triathlon Federation could take part in the Annual General Meeting and elections while the case is still ongoing.
At the same time, SDT's acting chairperson, Njeri Onyango, also allowed the elections to continue but said that NOC-K's Elective Congress should decide whether four disputed candidates were eligible to run.
The case had been brought by 14 federations, led by the Kenya Table Tennis Association, who claimed that some candidates, including Francis Mutuku and Anthony Kariuki, were nominated by people who are not official voting delegates, which goes against NOC-K's rules.
Top Stories Today
