How legal lacuna has allowed the ‘Mugabes’ of Kenyan sports to stay put
Sporting institutions like clubs and federations are the most notorious in perpetuating this anomaly that has become the norm.

Sports just like politics is very addictive and attractive; thus there is an inclination to often turn out to be a career as opposed to service.
The story of ageless administrators in Kenyan sports is as timeless as memory can serve. Despite the provision for term limits in the Sports Act 2013, the country has a huge reservoir of old guard still staying fresh and refusing to quit.
Sporting institutions like clubs and federations are the most notorious in perpetuating this anomaly that has become the norm. Bodies running football, cycling, netball and chess have some of the longest serving people in places of influence in Kenyan sports.
Gor Mahia FC comes to mind as the current chairman Ambrose Rachier is seeking yet another term despite having been at the helm for 16 years. The self-styled “Mugabe” of Kenyan football has undoubtedly been the most successful administrator in the club’s 57-year history with tons of titles and continental appearances.
In his own words, the veteran city lawyer believes he has unfinished business with K’Ogalo who are also 21 times domestic champions.
“People call me Mugabe, but Iam used to it. I have thought about this issue repeatedly and even consulted my family. It is true I had said I would quit in the last election, but there was also push to continue because a lot of things have not been concluded. I have always had a desire to leave some sort of legacy like having a stadium or training ground for the team,” he said in a previous television interview.
Organisations like Athletics Kenya, Kenya Cycling Federation and Kenya Netball Federation are some of the institutions that have had concerns with their leadership thus long stays for their Bosses. Up until late last year, KCF president Charles Mwangi had been at the helm for a staggering 40 years before his untimely death. Incidentally, despite the ripe age of 75, the veteran administrator had thrown his hat on the ring to vie for the Confedertaion of African Cycling (CAC) presidency.
According to sports lawyer Sarah Ochwada, the issue of long tenures stems from the slow implementation of the Sports Act.
“We are still in a transitionary phase with the Sports Act 2023 and as such, some of these organisations have met the requirements as demanded by the Registrar of Sports. We have had challenges and bumps in respect to meeting threshold including aspects like having branch networks which for some sport is difficult and expensive.”
“As such, some organisations have taken advantage to extend terms. There is obviously a grey area these people are exploiting and it is kind of working. For some people who meet halfway, they can only be given interim certificates that will last 90 days so that elections are then prepared and in which case over that time, the status quo remains, ”she says.
Ochwada contends that, in the case of federations, the law of the land takes precedence of international obligations.
“We understand that some of these guys argue that they are only beholden to their parent bodies abroad. However, the reality is that State legislature or the law of the land supersedes any statute from outside. This means FIFA, for instance, cannot tell Football Kenya Federation to run its elections contrary to demands of the Sports Act which has pegged administrative roles to two terms.”
“This however does not mean internal regulations of the association are not followed. Additionally, for clubs, this can only determined by their own internal constitutions as passed. This is more of a legal question than a common sense question and therefore the laws are abused or not solid, these issues are likely to persist,” adds the Arbitration practitioner.
Other legendary names in the sports administration circles includes Charles Nyaberi, who has been in Kenya Volleyball Federation and National Olympic Committee (NOC-K) cumulatively for slightly over 30 years. Others like Anthony Kariuki of Kenya Amateur Wrestling Federation and John Paul Ogolla of Kenya Handball Federation have also been at the helm of their organisations for at least 10 years.