The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) is once again in turmoil as fresh efforts to unseat chairman Alexander “Sasha” Mutai take center stage ahead of an anticipated Special General Meeting (SGM). Mutai, who took office in 2023, is the target of a renewed motion of no confidence marking yet another chapter in the Union’s escalating leadership crisis.
According to sources, a former KRU director, with backing from current board members, is spearheading the ouster campaign. Though the precise motives remain undisclosed, the push bears similarities to an earlier failed attempt to remove Mutai earlier this year. That bid was nullified by the Sports Disputes Tribunal III (SDT), which on March 23, 2025, ruled that Mutai’s suspension was “illegal, null and void” due to procedural irregularities.
The SDT emphasized that only the Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice-Chairman is authorized to convene board meetings rebuking the Honorary Secretary’s role in issuing an unconstitutional notice in the earlier effort. Despite this legal backing, tensions within the KRU leadership appear far from resolved.
The infighting comes at a time when the Union is under mounting pressure to clean up its act. A recent court order mandated a forensic audit of KRU’s finances and demanded immediate implementation of governance reforms, following credible allegations of mismanagement, lack of financial transparency, and breaches of the Union’s constitution.
The crisis has also attracted international scrutiny. World Rugby, the sport’s global governing body, has issued a stern warning to KRU, citing persistent governance failures. The organization threatened punitive measures—including a suspension from international competitions, funding withdrawal, and a ban on hosting events—if urgent reforms are not enacted.
These developments cast a long shadow over Kenya’s rugby future, with internal power struggles threatening to derail progress made in sponsorships and grassroots development under Mutai’s leadership.
Efforts to reach Chairman Mutai for comment were unsuccessful, as calls and messages remained unanswered at the time of publication. The looming SGM now holds the key to the Union’s immediate direction either toward reform and unity or further discord and potential international isolation.
