A pivotal moment looms in Kenya’s Olympic movement as the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) prepares to elect its new leadership this Thursday (April 24) at Pride Inn in Westlands, Nairobi.
The contest has taken the shape of a spirited duel between two distinct visions for the future — Team New Dawn, led by Shadrack Maluki and Barnaba Korir, and the Francis Mutuku-led slate, rooted in experience and continuity.
The incoming team will take over from Olympic and long-distance legend Paul Tergat, whose term as NOC-K President comes to an end.
Tergat, a revered figure in global athletics, has been credited with raising Kenya’s international profile but has faced increasing pressure over governance and athlete welfare during his tenure.
Team New Dawn: Reformist Bloc with a Bold Agenda
Positioning themselves as champions of transformation, Team New Dawn is fronted by Shadrack Maluki, the President of Judo Kenya, and Barnaba Korir, the Youth Development Director at Athletics Kenya.
At a recent well-attended launch event held at a Nairobi hotel, the team unveiled a platform anchored in athlete-centered governance, transparency, and innovation, dubbed New NOC-K/Fresh NOC-K.
“Our Olympic movement must work for the athletes, not the other way around,” said Maluki. “We want to rebuild NOCK into an institution that listens, includes, and delivers.”
Team New Dawn’s lineup includes Lt. Col. (rtd) Randiek Nahashon of the Fencing Federation (nominated for second Deputy President), Andrew Mudibo of the Kenya Table Tennis Association (vying for Secretary General) and seasoned grassroots sports administrators Suleiman Sumba and Sasha Mutai.
Also on the slate is Muduba Waweru, a widely respected technocrat whose behind-the-scenes work in sports development has helped shape national policy and programming.
The team has proposed Olympic legend Eliud Kipchoge and rugby star Grace Okulu as athlete representatives, symbolic of their commitment to placing athletes at the heart of NOCK’s future.
“Athletes must be seen as strategic partners, not just competitors,” emphasized Korir. “Their experiences and input are crucial to shaping policy and preparing for global competition.”
In an interview with Pura Vida Sports Africa, Korir added:
“We’re not just contesting for positions; we’re contesting for the soul of Kenyan sports. We owe it to the next generation to leave a legacy of integrity, equality, and excellence.”
Manifesto Rooted in Accountability and Progress
Team New Dawn’s five-point agenda features Athlete-Centered Leadership; Integrity-Driven Governance; Financial Accountability and Transparency; Inclusive and Participatory Decision-Making and Innovation in Athlete Development and Sports Management
With the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games approaching, the team has pledged to immediately form a Youth Olympic Taskforce to co-ordinate talent development, qualification pathways, and federation preparedness.
“Kenya has always had the talent. What we need now is structure, strategy, and support,” said Lt. Col. Randiek.
“This is not about just participating. It’s about winning—sustainably and systematically.”
The Contest: Vision vs. Continuity
Opposing Team New Dawn is a slate led by Francis Mutuku, the current NOC-K Secretary General. A longtime tennis administrator, Mutuku is seen as a steady hand with deep roots in international Olympic structures.
His team includes notable sports leaders such as IOC Member Humphrey Kayange, a former rugby star and current IOC member; Paul Otula, a veteran basketball administrator; and Mohamed Shoaib Vayani, a financial expert from the shooting federation.
Mutuku’s team is running on a platform of stability, experience, and safeguarding Kenya’s Olympic legacy.
They argue that global partnerships and long-term relationships fostered under the current leadership offer the most assured path forward.
IOC Breakthrough: Kirsty Coventry’s Historic Win
The NOC-K elections come on the heels of a groundbreaking moment in global Olympic leadership: Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry was recently elected as the first African and first woman President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Coventry’s ascension signals a potential power shift within global sport governance, placing Africa at the heart of the Olympic movement.
For Team Maluki and other reformist blocs across the continent, Coventry’s win is more than symbolic. It provides a fresh impetus for African nations to align with a renewed, athlete-first Olympic agenda.
“With Kirsty at the helm of the IOC, this is a unique chance for Africa to reset its Olympic priorities,” Korir told Pura Vida Sports Africa in an interview. “Kenya should be at the forefront of that renaissance.”
If Team New Dawn wins in Kenya, it would be seen as part of a broader continental momentum toward reform, transparency, and inclusivity in Olympic governance.
IEBC to Oversee Critical Vote
For the first time in NOCK’s history, the elections will be overseen by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). This move comes after sustained calls for transparency and fair play from stakeholders and international observers.
The high-stakes vote is being watched closely amid growing scrutiny over athlete welfare, financial integrity, and equitable representation of federations.
With the NOC-K presidency now wide open, the outcome will signal the direction of Kenya’s Olympic future—towards bold reform or institutional continuity.
Athletes Watching Closely
As Kenya’s elite athletes gear up for global competitions, including the upcoming World Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China, many are paying close attention to the leadership transition.
The next NOC-K administration will shape not only their Olympic journeys but also the broader structure of support, mentorship, and welfare.
For Maluki, Korir, and the entire Team New Dawn, the mission is clear: to usher in a new, inclusive era where Kenyan sports rise not just in spirit but in performance and integrity.
“The change we’re calling for is not just cosmetic. It’s structural,” Maluki concluded.
“It’s time for a NOCK that works for all.”
Robert Kibet is a freelance journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya. He previously worked as a correspondent for Milele FM. His feature stories on development, the climate crisis, the environment, conflict, human rights, food security, and education have been published in The Guardian UK, Reuters, IPS, DW, The New Humanitarian, and Equal Times.
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