Francis Mutuku has officially launched his campaign to become the next president of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK). Mutuku, who currently serves as the first deputy president of Tennis Kenya, is looking to succeed athletics legend Paul Tergat, who has completed two terms over the past eight years. The NOCK elections are set to take place on April 24.
During his manifesto launch at Nairobi Club, Mutuku outlined his vision, which focuses on athlete welfare, elite development, financial sustainability, and infrastructural growth. He emphasized the need for early Olympic preparations, embracing sports technology, and ensuring a more athlete-centered leadership approach.
“I have seen the good fruits we can harvest and the deep wells we can drink from. This is drawn from my eight years as NOCK Secretary General. It gives me the confidence to say I have a team that will help me deliver and serve from a point of knowledge and experience,” Mutuku said.
At the event, Mutuku, dressed in a blue suit, light pink shirt, and maroon tie, made his ambitions clear before a crowd of sports stakeholders, including Kibra MP Peter Orero. His campaign officially kicked off with a “Mbuzi” (goat-eating) party on Wednesday evening at Nairobi Club, where he engaged members and shared his vision.
Mutuku has assembled a strong team to support his bid, including Anthony “Jamal” Otieno, president of the Boxing Federation of Kenya, who is vying for first vice president. Outgoing NOCK deputy secretary general Shoiab Vayani is contesting for the treasurer position, while outgoing deputy treasurer John Ogolla will run for secretary general. Executive committee member Paul Otula will vie for deputy treasurer, and women’s representative Paurvi Rawal is seeking a committee member position.
“We want to elevate everyone referees, coaches, athletes, and federations so that we can move together to the next level,” Mutuku emphasized.
One of his key proposals is early talent identification, advocating for the expansion of Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) programs to primary schools. He believes that focusing on athletes from Form One is already too late and that an earlier start would lead to better results.
Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Mutuku vowed to establish a dedicated working committee within a month of taking office. He stressed the importance of thorough preparation to enhance performance despite financial constraints.
“Performance will always be a reflection of preparation. We have challenges with funding, but we must start with what we have,” he said.
Mutuku also promised to appoint the Chef de Mission early to facilitate engagement with federations and ensure adequate preparation for Team Kenya. To enhance financial sustainability, he plans to boost public-private partnerships and introduce merchandising initiatives to support Team Kenya.
Another aspect of his vision involves leveraging technology to improve athlete development. He underscored the need for sports medicine awareness, data collection, and statistical analysis to enhance performance.
Additionally, Mutuku pledged to advocate for policies that integrate Kenya’s sports legends into sports diplomacy and international relations. He aims to ensure that all athletes, including Olympic qualifiers, receive recognition and appreciation.
“We only wait to celebrate medallists from the Olympics, but I want to change that by ensuring that even qualifiers are recognized and celebrated before or after the games,” he stated.
At the last Olympics, Kenya finished 17th overall, ranking as Africa’s top nation with 11 medals four gold, two silver, and five bronze.
