Ambrose Rachier retains seat as Gor Mahia chairman
Ambrose Rachier has been re-elected as Gor Mahia chairman for a new four-year term after defeating Dolfina Odhiambo in the club’s elections held at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday. His win means he is set to extend his leadership to 21 years, with a final term ending in 2029 due to limits set by the Sports Act.
High Court advocate Ambrose Rachier retained his seat for a new four-year term as Gor Mahia chairman after garnering 658 votes during the club’s elections held on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium basketball gymnasium.
Rachier’s only opponent, former treasurer Dolfina Odhiambo, managed 456 votes.
The victory means Rachier’s reign as Gor Mahia chairman is expected to extend to 21 years, having assumed the position in May 2008 when he succeeded Erastus Okul.
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Previously, Rachier had defended his seat in the 2016 and 2020 elections. However, a change in the club’s leadership is expected in 2029, as the Sports Act will bar Rachier from vying for another term.
Rachier’s 17-year tenure coincides with one of the most successful eras in the club’s history. During that period, Gor Mahia have won nine league titles, four FKF Cups, six Super Cups, and two KPL Top 8 titles.
The club also featured in the group stage of the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup and reached the quarterfinals of the same competition in the 2018–19 season.
Under Rachier’s leadership, the club secured shirt sponsorship deals with Tuzo (2011–2014) and SportPesa (2016–2018 and 2022 to date).
Apart from the chairperson’s position, registered Gor Mahia members also voted to elect new officials to fill the vacant positions of vice-chairperson, secretary general, and honorary treasurer.
In the race for vice-chairperson, Sally Bolo was elected to the position after garnering 610 votes against her sole challenger Victor Omondi’s 488 votes.
Bolo, alongside Dolfina Odhiambo, was a late entrant in the race after the Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) instructed the Gor Mahia Elections Board to lower the nomination fees it had initially set for candidates.
Bolo, Odhiambo, and Philip Nyakwana had filed a case challenging the high nomination fees set for candidates vying for the four vacant positions of chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary general, and honorary treasurer.
Before the SDT ruled in favour of the trio on Thursday, April 10, candidates for the chairperson position were required to pay Sh500,000 as nomination fees, while those contesting the vice-chairperson position were to part with Sh450,000. Nomination fees for the secretary general and honorary treasurer positions had been set at Sh400,000.
Following the SDT ruling, nomination fees for the chairperson and vice-chairperson positions were reduced to Sh150,000 and Sh125,000, respectively. The SDT also directed the Elections Board to reduce the fees for the secretary general and honorary treasurer positions to Sh100,000.
Additionally, the SDT ordered the Gor Mahia Elections Board to extend the registration deadline to midnight on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
The race for the secretary general position, which attracted two candidates following the late withdrawal of radio presenter Joseph Ogidi alias GidiGidi, saw Nicanor Arum trounce incumbent Sam Ochola to clinch the seat with 582 votes. Ochola received 501 votes.
The contest for the honorary treasurer position was also tightly contested, with Gerphas Okuku winning the seat after polling 527 votes—just three more than Philip Nyakwana, who garnered 524 votes.
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