The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) elections set for April 24, 2025, will mark the end of an era for the incumbent president, Paul Tergat, who steps down after completing two transformative terms at the helm.
Tergat, a two-time Olympic 10,000m silver medallist and former world marathon record holder, rose to the presidency unopposed in 2017 after the General Assembly barred his only challenger, the late Patrick Muya.
He succeeded Kenya’s iconic Olympian, Kipchoge Keino, who led the organisation since 1999, overseeing golden eras like the Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 Olympics.
However, Tergat’s entry into office came at a turbulent time.
The Rio 2016 Olympics exposed serious flaws in NOC-K’s management, with allegations of corruption and disorganisation tarnishing Kenya’s image despite the nation finishing 15th globally with 13 medals (six gold, six silver and one bronze).
Tergat’s key task after assumption of office was to rebuild NOCK’s image which had seen its reputation tarnished.
Tergat’s first global competition was the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where Kenya bagged 17 medals (four gold seven silver and six bronze) ranking 14th.
He would later oversee Kenya’s appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where the country bagged 10 medals (four gold, four silver and two bronze).
Tergat was re-elected unopposed on December 9, 2021.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kenya bagged 11 medals (four gold, two silver and five bronze) the highest by an African nation.
Beyond steering the nation to global dominance, Tergat expanded the Olympic family, incorporating new sports federations such as E-sports, ice hockey, breakdancing, cricket, lacrosse and gymnastics, bringing the total to 26.
Federations under the outgoing regime were full of praise for Tergat with Kenya Cycling Federation secretary general Charles Mose highlighting how he had turned around the umbrella body.
“Tergat has made a huge difference from the past administration,” he noted.
Mose said the committee was fair in its support to all member federations.
“As the cycling federation, we have nothing to complain about the outgoing regime. We have always gotten whatever support we have asked for,” Mose noted.
Looking ahead, he hopes that the incoming administration will fill the big shoes.
“We want people who can fit into the shoes of those who are leaving and continue with the great work that had already been started,” he said.
NOC-K held its Annual General Meeting on December 10 in which they discussed the election roadmap.
The race for the presidency promises a thrilling showdown.
The front runners for the seat are Shadrack Maluki, the Kenya Judo Federation president and current NoC-K secretary general Francis Mutuku.
Maluki, who served as Kenya’s Chef de Mission at the Paris Olympics, is Tergat’s current deputy president as well as a seasoned administrator.
Before being elected at NOC-K, Mutuku served as an official of the Kenya Lawn Tennis Association (KLTA) in various capacities.
The late Waithaka Kioni was widely tipped as Tergat’s successor before his untimely demise in April 2023.
Meanwhile, former rugby legend and IOC Athlete Commission representative Humphrey Kayange will battle it out for the SecretaryGeneral slot with Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) chair Andrew Mudibo although rumours have it that Kenya Weightlifting Federation chair John Ogolla could join the race.
Nahashon Randiek is expected
to once again vie for the deputy
president position alongside
Kenya Volleyball Federation chair
Charles Nyaberi.
