A nationwide public participation exercise to overhaul the Athletics Kenya (AK) constitution is nearing its conclusion amid sharp disagreements over key reform proposals, casting a shadow over the future governance of Kenya's most successful sport. The process, initiated on November 3, 2025, and guided by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, aims to align the federation's legal framework with the Sports Act of 2013 but has exposed deep-seated tensions within the athletics community.

The 12-day consultation forums, held across various counties including Garissa, Eldoret, Nyeri, and Kisumu, have brought athletes, coaches, and officials to the table. However, instead of fostering consensus, the meetings have become a battleground for competing visions for the federation's future. Contentious issues include the structure of AK's leadership, the election process, gender representation, and the devolution of sports management.

Key Points of Contention

Several critical proposals have polarized stakeholders, threatening to create a stalemate. One of the most debated topics is whether AK's administrative and electoral structure should remain centralized at the regional level or be devolved to the 47 counties. Proponents of the current regional system, including officials from the Central Region, argue that it is more efficient for coordination and ensures representation for counties with fewer athletic activities. They warn that devolving to the county level could lead to mismanagement, discrimination, and overrepresentation from certain areas, citing existing challenges with sports management under county governments since the onset of devolution.

Conversely, stakeholders in regions like Kisumu and Kisii have advocated for devolving athletics to the county level, calling for an independent body to handle elections and registration to enhance fairness and local ownership.

Gender balance in leadership has also emerged as a significant flashpoint. Prominent athletes, including former 800m world champion Janet Jepkosgei, have forcefully advocated for reserving the vice president's position for a woman. This proposal is part of a broader push for inclusivity, alongside calls for elected, not handpicked, male and female athlete representatives who would hold executive decision-making powers within the AK committee. However, some reports indicate resistance to these changes, with some stakeholders preferring to retain traditional representation methods.

Calls for Athlete Welfare and Integrity

Beyond governance structures, the forums have been dominated by urgent calls to tackle the doping crisis that has tarnished Kenya's athletic reputation. In Kapenguria, former steeplechase world champion Christopher Koskei proposed extending bans for doping violations to eight years and holding coaches and managers equally accountable. This reflects a widespread demand for stricter integrity measures to protect clean athletes and restore credibility.

The welfare of athletes has been another recurring theme. Julius Yego, former world javelin champion, has been a vocal proponent for including athlete representatives in the AK Executive Committee with full voting rights. Two-time Boston Marathon winner Moses Tanui has called for national elections at all levels to be conducted on a single day to ensure fairness and transparency, and for national team coaches to be selected by a panel of esteemed experts.

A History of Stalled Reforms

The current constitutional review is not AK's first attempt at reform. The federation's constitution has been a point of contention for years, contributing to the abortion of the 2016 elections after legal challenges from former athletes seeking greater inclusion. A High Court ruling in 2024 ordered long-serving officials, including president Jack Tuwei, to vacate office in line with the Sports Act's term limits, though this was later reversed by the Court of Appeal, extending their tenure. This history of legal battles and stalled progress underscores the challenges facing the current process. Sports Registrar Rose Wasike has noted that frequent litigation has crippled sports development in the country and urged stakeholders to utilize internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

As the public participation phase concludes in Nairobi with sessions for federations, sponsors, and the media from November 12-14, the federation faces the daunting task of reconciling these divergent views. The outcome will determine whether Athletics Kenya can successfully modernize its governance to become more transparent, inclusive, and effective, or if internal divisions will once again slow the pace of much-needed reforms. The deadline for written submissions is Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM EAT.