Athletics Kenya Universities Elects New Chairman

Paul Tuitoek of Kabarak University has dethroned Tecla Sang as the new chairman of the Athletics Kenya Universities Region.

During the polls held at the Egerton University on Wednesday, Tuitoek garnered 17 votes against Sang's nine.

Kenyatta University's Selina Sigei and Eric Ngetich of University of Nairobi were elected the first and second vice chairmen respectively.

Edward Muema of KU got 20 votes to clinch the secretary general's seat, beating Kamau Nthenya who got six. The assistant secretary general's seat went to Kevin Anywa while Maurice Ochieng of Technical University clinched the treasurer's seat with 22 votes against Fatwell Kimaiyo's (University of Eldoret) four.

John Gikaria (Egerton University) was unopposed as the new assistant treasurer while Pwani University's Kennedy Omillo was elected the public relations officer, also unopposed.

Judith Kinoti (University of Nairobi), Frank Mbuthia (Moi University) and Andrew Kibet (Kabianga University) were elected the committee members.

Muema said they are going to start work immediately and have already identified areas that they need to focus on as they seek to compete with some of the pronounced affiliates.

"Our main focus will be to ensure the style of management is rejuvenated to enable as compete well with the rest of the regions," said Muema.

"We also want to ensure we get funding from sponsors to help us organise many inter-university events as opposed to the current situation."

Muema said they will also be seeking to increase their visibility at the national level. "We have always had limited or no representation at all in the national teams and this should change now," said Muema. "This is despite having many talented athletes in our institutions."

"We are also going to talk to Athletics Kenya and hopefully the IAAF to help us train more coaches at the universities, who will in turn help tap the abundant talent," added Muema.

He said universities have always relied on foreign-based athletes to represent them at the World Universities Games, a thing he said belongs to the past.

"We are focusing on sending locally-based athletes to the event from now on and we have faith that AK will come to our aid," he said.