Erastus Okul (pictured above with James Orengo), who was Rachier’s immediate predecessor as Chairman is asking Rachier to allow new leadership so that new ideas can be brought to the club<\/p>\n
Additional reporting from the Nation<\/p>\n
Former Gor Mahia chairman Erastus Okul has waded into the upcoming club polls and opposed the candidature of his successor Ambrose Rachier in the elections slated for August 8.<\/p>\n
Okul, who handed the mantle to Rachier in 2009, says it is time another individual takes over since he feels the former has done enough and achieved a lot at the club in his 11 years at the helm.<\/p>\n
“I am advising Rachier to leave Gor Mahia and hand leadership to a younger generation. He has won titles and stabilized the team, this notion that the club cannot survive without him is scaring people from going for the position. He should let other people rule,” Okul told Nation Sport from his home in Kendu Bay, Homa Bay County.<\/p>\n
Rachier has already announced his intention to defend his post and was recently quoted as saying it would not be fair to leave the club before it becomes financially stable.<\/p>\n
Under his reign, Gor has won seven Kenyan Premier League titles and managed a quarter final berth in the Caf Confederation Cup in 2018.<\/p>\n
The 71-year-old Okul, who also served as Kenya Premier League chairman, dismissed the attainment of degree as a condition for every aspirant to vie for the four posts up for grabs.<\/p>\n
The four positions are Secretary General, Honorary Treasurer, Chairman and Vice Chairman.<\/p>\n
“The issue of degree doesn’t apply in club leadership and should be struck out. Why was the constitution passed without our input as individuals who served the club in the past,? he posed.<\/p>\n
“Any person interested in a post should be allowed to vie and majority of club members should be allowed to elect a leader of their choice,” added Okul.<\/p>\n
He also asked for the exercise to be postponed to a later date to give all members an opportunity to participate because of the current state of coronavirus pandemic in the country.<\/p>\n
The new Gor Mahia constitution stipulates that all aspirants for various posts should have a degree before being cleared to vie.<\/p>\n
The issue has created divisions among supporters of outgoing club organising Secretary Judith ‘IMF’ Anyango, fondly known as Nyangi, who is interested in the honorary treasurer post.<\/p>\n
Anyango, who doesn’t have a degree, has promised to raise her complaint with the Sports Registrar and take it to the Sports Dispute Tribunal if the new constitution will be used in the elections.<\/p>\n
She further alleged that there is a plot to lock her out of the elections because of the thorough oversight role she has played in the last four years as a Gor Mahia official.<\/p>\n
The electoral board has already been put in place to oversee the election and only those who will have registered by Monday midnight will be allowed to vote during the polls.<\/p>\n