Rachier: I have unfinished business
There has been controversy over Ambrose Rachier’s decision to seek another term. He explains to Yahoo sports why he is seeking another term
Despite leading the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions for the last 12 years, Rachier has defended his move to seek re-election again during the club’s much-awaited polls set to be conducted via electronic voting on August 8.
“I have done much for this club and it is evident enough. Since I took over in 2008, we have achieved so much and that makes me proud,” Rachier is quoted by People Sports.
“In 12 years, we have won 46 trophies, surely that is something. It is also a testament I have retained my seat unopposed; it means members have always had faith in my leadership.
“To run this great club, you have to be a servant first. It is not easy to lead Gor Mahia given the image and so it is about being passionate and efficient. The reason I am in the seat is so to help drive the club to greater heights.”
Rachier, who is heading to return unopposed, as no official stepped up to contest his position, has also supported the club’s new constitution which moved to reduce the number of elective posts from 11 to four.
“It will be better to have a lean but effective office with individuals able to persecute the mandate given to them,” Rachier continued. “In the past, it was a bit complicated and sometimes differences would occur.
“We want to speak a unified language that is endeared to developing the club.”
On whether they are ready for the exercise, Rachier said: “We are ready for the polls and we have followed all directives of the Sports Act. In fact, the recent directive by Sports Registrar on deploying monitors to assess the viability and credibility of elections online is complete.
“We have ICPAK [Institute of Chartered Public Accountants of Kenya] on board and we have already forwarded names of voters who have met criteria of being registered club members.
“The Board is in place with gender balance ascertained.”
Apart from Rachier, secretary Sam Ocholla is also unopposed while former club officials ‘Sally Bollo and Francis Wasuna will battle for the vice-chairmanship post while Gor Mahia’s Augmentin official Dolphina Odhiambo will face off with Chrispine Okoth.
All systems go for elections
Gor Mahia’s election board are ready for the club’s elections which will be scaled down considerably from past years. With only 500 registered members compared to over 2000 in past years and with the Chairman running unnopposed, there will be a lot less fanfare
Story courtesy of the Nation
It is all system go for Gor Mahia elections as the Electoral Board meets on Tuesday to release the guidelines for the online exercise slated for Saturday.
This even as a group of seven disgruntled fans says they will move to the Sports Dispute Tribunal (STD) on Tuesday seeking to stop the exercise.
The seven, through Omondi Omollo Advocates, had on July 21 written to the board questioning the legality of the exercise.
However, they say the response they received didn’t touch on contentious issue of academic qualification that requires all aspirants to be degree holders and registration of the club constitution.
Board chairman Henry Ogoye, on the other hand, says everything has been put in place electronically for the treasurer and vice person post which will be up for grabs.
“We have finished up on everything and we will have our last meeting on Tuesday to fine tune all aspect of the technology to be used. Every voter will have a secret code to be used in voting through a link which shall be issued,” Ogoye told Nairobi News on Monday evening.
TRANSPARENT AFFAIR
“It is going to be a transparent exercise and all issues raised recently by the registrar have all been taken care of,” he further said.
He also said they responded extensively to the demand letter by the fans on all issues within their mandate.
“The board was formed recently and couldn’t respond to all issues outside their mandate like how the new constitution was passed. Our response to them centred on the electoral rules which are anchored on club constitution,” he added.
Sports Journalist Gilbert Wandera, who is among the fans petitioning for the cancellation of the election, said they will be heading to SDT on Tuesday.
“First, they didn’t respond to us on when the constitution was registered. They have also failed to show us how the requirement of the degree was incorporated in the constitution. The board itself was also not formed through the laid down process, considering locking out other candidates has also been opposed by the Registrar of Sports,” said Wandera.
LEGAL REDRESS
He said that they have no option but to seek legal redress as the election is illegal.
Other fans who are against the exercise are Kulendeng branch official Ben Agunda, insurance financial advisor Sewe Odero, Alfred Odhiambo Otieno, George Ochieng’ Gombe, Meshack Odero and Edder Jalang’o.
Outgoing Organising Secretary Judith ‘Nyangi’ Anyango, who was barred from vying for treasurer’s post because she lacks a degree, also supports the decision to head to SDT.
Meanwhile, former club officials ‘Sally ‘Nyar Adwen’ Bollo and Francis Wasuna will lock horns for the Vice Chair’s post while Gor Mahia’s Augmentin official Dolphina Odhiambo will face off with academician Dr Chrispine Okoth who holds three Masters degrees and a PhD.
Long-serving chairman Ambrose Rachier and Sam Ochola have as good as secured the Chairmanship and Secretary General’s posts respectively having been nominated unopposed.
