Kenya has produced world beating sports champions since the country first participated at the Olympic Games in 1956.Kenya first participated in the Summer Olympics at the 1956 Melbourne Games as the British Colony and Protectorate of Kenya.

Over the years, Kenyan athletes have conquered the world making great strides at both the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games. From athletics to tennis; rugby to boxing, Kenya is a global powerhouse.

Sports brings together the youth in different facets and this talents need formidable leaders of integrity to steer the industry. And as the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) heads to the elections, federations must vote into office a leadership that not only has the capability of taking sports to higher heights but also the integrity to lead as role models to the upcoming young athletes.

The Tennis Kenya secretary general Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani who was the Chief executive officer for team Kenya at the Paris Olympics in 2024 is again in line for leadership at the NOCK secretariat if a new NOCK executive under the Francis Mutuku faction is voted in.

However, Wanjiru Karani popularly known as Wanji fails in the integrity test. According to numerous sources, Wanji is said to have divorced from her husband Mbugua over allegations of infidelity. The break up saw her drop her husband’s name.

Rumoured to be a classical Kilimani Mum, Wanjiru Karani has failed the very test for a leader of integrity. Known online for their appetite for young men, alcohol and endless parties at uptown estates of Kilimani and Kileleshwa, Wanjiru Karani who should be a mother figure to young sports people, Wanjiru fails to set a good example.

Electing Mutuku and his ilk will mean electing a leadership whose secretariat will be led by a wayward CEO. It is a ploy to have a NOCK that is led by people brought together by illicit relationships and not the zeal, will and qualifications to lead Kenya into the next frontier in the Olympic movement.

Team Kenya successful Paris 2024, Kenya’s best Olympics performance on European soil was made possible by the Chef De Mission Shadrack Maluki and his Deputy CDM Barnaba Korir whose secretariat was led by Wanjiru Karani and it is fair to laud the entire team, however, Kenyan young sportsmen and women deserve a better leader who should be a role model to them and not one who might end up preying on the young men striving to make it in the sports industry.