Tension Builds as Mutuku and Maluki Clash in High-Stakes NOCK Presidential Race
The race to succeed Paul Tergat as President of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has taken a dramatic turn, with two formidable contenders—Francis Mutuku and Shadrack Maluki—locking horns in what is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested elections in the committee’s history.
With the elections slated for April 24, anticipation is surging and alliances are shifting behind closed doors. On one side stands Francis Mutuku, the current NOC-K Secretary General, who officially launched his campaign last week with bold promises of innovation, technology integration, and strategic preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“I’m not here to campaign for power. I’m here to prepare Kenya for glory,” Mutuku declared during his launch, sending a clear message that he means business.
But standing in his way is Shadrack Maluki, a man of quiet influence and immense strategic clout. The current First Deputy President and long-serving president of the Kenya Judo Federation, Maluki was Kenya’s Chef de Mission at the Paris 2024 Olympics and is rumored to have the backing of the outgoing president himself, Paul Tergat.
Though Maluki has yet to formally and publicly launched his candidacy, insiders suggest his camp is working behind the scenes, lining up key federations and regional leaders to secure a landslide.
“The silence is deafening, but make no mistake—Maluki is coming,” whispered a source close to the NOC-K inner circle.
The battle lines are drawn, and with each day ticking closer to D-Day, questions hang heavy in the air: Will Mutuku’s proactive approach and public campaign win over the voters? Or will Maluki’s quiet power and legacy in Olympic leadership carry the day?