The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) has stepped in to halt Gor Mahia’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was initially set for Saturday, 7th September, following a mutual agreement between the involved parties to delay the event.
This development follows legal action by lawyer Benard Agwera Omolo, who questioned the legality of the AGM and challenged the legitimacy of the club’s Executive Committee.
Omolo, in a case filed earlier in the week, raised concerns over the committee’s tenure, arguing that the current leadership, chaired by Ambrose Rachier, should have organized fresh elections by 8 August 2024.
According to Omolo, the Executive Committee took office on 8 August 2020, and its term had already expired. Additionally, he cited the club’s alleged non-compliance with the Sports Act of 2013, the Sports Registrar Regulations of 2016, and the Constitution of Kenya.
During a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, the parties reached a consensus to delay the AGM, granting both sides time to prepare their cases. Gor Mahia was given 14 days to submit its response to the main claim, with the case set to be mentioned on 8 October for further directions.
Gor Mahia Vice Chairman Francis Wasuna commented on the matter, stating, “The two parties have been given two weeks each to file their responses. We’ll reconvene on 8 October to set a hearing date,” he told Passion Sports.
While the legal proceedings unfold, both parties have been given the option to negotiate and possibly resolve the issue out of court.
The AGM was supposed to serve as a platform for discussing upcoming elections and exploring the possibility of transforming Gor Mahia into a Limited Liability Company. However, the sudden postponement casts uncertainty over the club’s future leadership and strategic direction.
Ambrose Rachier, who has been at the helm of the club for over a decade, expressed his discontent with Omolo’s actions. “What does he intend to achieve? Cause chaos?” Rachier questioned to Passion Sports, accusing Omolo of attempting to disrupt the club’s operations at a critical time.
As Gor Mahia prepares for the new season, having recently won the FKF Premier League, the club is also balancing its commitments in the CAF Champions League. They are set to face Egypt’s Al Ahly SC in the round of 32 next week, making the timing of the dispute particularly disruptive.
The SDT’s intervention has now placed the future of Gor Mahia’s leadership in question, as the club waits for the case to move forward.
