Areas of excitement at usually dull elections of the Golf Union

Next week, the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) will hold its annual general meeting (AGM), and elect new office bearers.

Gauged against other sport and sacco AGMs, the KGU annual meetings are a truly dull affair — no court orders, no punches or flying chairs, hardly any excitement — some may argue the game of golf is the same, a bit boring, for the older balding men. Ahem!

The KGU constitution dictates that the AGM must be held in the month of May — and this has been the practice for many years. The chairman of the Union serves for one year and moves on, no changes in the constitution, no prolonged terms, no scandals, just serve and move along.

Next week, the current KGU vice chairman Muchau Githiaka, Vet Lab, will be elected unopposed as the KGU Chairman for a one year term.

Richard Wanjallah, Muthaiga, probably the longest serving KGU executive, will be elected vice chair, Lucas Maranga, Limuru, will assume the role of Hon Secretary and Anthony Murage, Karen, will take over as Hon Treasurer.

For the position of KGU executives, 10 candidates have been proposed for six available seats — so we may yet see some excitement.

The nominees are Asif Padamshi, Windsor, Ben Omoudo, Royal, Charles Kipngok, Kericho, Chris Kieu, Kiambu, George Gathu, KAF, Ndiga Kithae, Thika, Nobert Wabwire, Railway, Peter Kiguru, Sigona, Robert Kairo, Golf Park and Vincent Wang’ombe, Limuru.

All the nominees, except one, have been picked by their home clubs; Robert Kairo, a member of Kiambu, didn’t get the nod from his home club, and this may perhaps be the most controversial issue at what is otherwise expected to be a boring AGM.

The Golf Park Captain, Anthony Maina, allegedly nominated Kairo, and while there is nothing wrong for any club to nominate any candidate, questions should also be asked of a nominee whose home club did not find him suitable for nomination. And further, there are questions as to the authenticity of the Golf Park nomination.

Was the nomination authored by Maina? Did he as Captain of Golf Park have the blessings of his golf committee and or his membership?

Is the letter genuine? Who delivered it to the Union offices? Why wouldn’t Golf Park nominate one of their own, and is it too late to do so now?
Why did Kiambu decline to nominate Kairo? What do they know that we don’t?

Kiambu nominated Kieu, a former captain and chairman, and some may argue that nominees to the KGU must have served as captains.

Padamshi is a former captain, Omoudo is a former captain and chairman, I have scant info on Kericho’s nominee Kipngok, Gathu has been vice-captain at KAF for a long time, Kithae, Wang’ombe and Wabwire are former captains and Wang’ombe is recognised as the golf rules guru in Kenya today. Kiguru and Kairo have not served the game of golf as captains.

Heated AGM

So who will vote next week? Clubs with up to 50 members have a single vote; they include Aberdares, Gilgil, Green Park, Kakamega, Kenya Air Force, Kisii, Kitale, Magadi, Makuyu, Mumias, Naivasha, Nandi, Ndumberi, Njoro, Nanyuki, Nyahururu, Malindi and Vipingo.

Clubs with 51 to 150 members have two votes. They are Eldoret, Nyanza, Ruiru, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kericho, Leisure Lodge, Machakos, Nyeri and Golf Park.

Clubs with 151 to 300 members have three votes. They are Nyali, Kiambu, Windsor, Railway and Thika. Clubs with 301 to 425 members have four votes. They are Limuru and Vet Lab.

Clubs with over 425 members have five votes and they include Royal Nairobi, Sigona, Muthaiga and Karen.

To win this election, nominees will need the support, firstly, of their home clubs and then that of the big boys in the game.

Looking forward to a heated AGM.