Kenya may deregister 64 sports association over non-compliance

NAIROBI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A Kenyan official said on Sunday that all sports organizations that will not have been affiliated with the Sports Registrar by June will face deregistration.

Richard Ombeva, the Deputy Sports Registrar, said that out of the 80 sports federations in the country, only 16 have been registered and told the remaining 64 to move with speed to become compliant lest they faced the axe.

"The non-compliant organizations should move with speed and meet the required regulations. Treasury will not release funds to them and they will also not be allowed to take part in any sporting activities within and out of the country," the official said in Nairobi during the elections to elect officials of the Kenya Netball Association.

"This is the last time that you are holding elections because your association is not compliant and new regulations also state that unregistered associations will not be allowed to hold elections," Ombeva cautioned the newly elected officials.

Under the Sports Act 2013, all existing sports organization in the country was required to register afresh by Aug. 1, 2014.

Before 2013, all sports organizations in Kenya were registered under the Societies Act, but with the enactment of the law, they were duly required to register with the Sports Registrar upon commencement of the Sports Act.

Organizations are required to amend their constitutions in line with their international statutes, the Kenyan Constitution and Sports Act to be eligible for registration.

They were also supposed to consider gender and regional balance, hold independent, verifiable and fair elections and observe integrity among others.

During the elections, Immaculate Kibutha was elected as Kenya Netball Association president after she defeated Mildred Wanyama, who is mother to Tottenham Hotspur player, Victor Wanyama, by 57 to seven votes. Enditem