NAIROBI, Kenya — Gor Mahia Football Club has been ordered to begin fresh elections after the Sports Registrar ruled that several of its top officials, including long-serving chairman Ambrose Rachier, have reached the maximum tenure allowed under Kenyan sports laws.
In a letter dated June 10, 2026, Sports Registrar Rose Wasike directed the club to initiate the election process within four weeks, setting the stage for a potentially historic leadership transition at Kenya’s most successful football club.
The directive follows a determination by the Registrar that officials who have continuously held office since Gor Mahia’s registration under the Sports Act have now exhausted the eight-year limit prescribed by law.
According to the Registrar, Gor Mahia received its certificate of registration on June 8, 2018, and was required to conduct its first election within 90 days.
However, the club’s inaugural election under the new legal framework was not held until August 8, 2020.
The Registrar maintains that the delay in conducting elections did not stop the tenure clock from running.
Under the Sports Act and accompanying regulations, elected officials of registered sports organizations may serve a maximum of two four-year terms, equivalent to eight years in office.
Based on that interpretation, officials who have remained in leadership since registration reached their legal limit on June 8, 2026.
“The officials elected to office on April 13, 2025, were already serving within the final phase of the maximum period permitted under the law,” the Registrar stated.
The ruling specifically affects Chairman Ambrose Rachier, Vice Chairperson Sally Bolo, Secretary Nicanor Arum and Treasurer Gerphas Ogolla, all of whom were re-elected during the club’s elections in April 2025.
The Registrar noted that Rachier had already completed one four-year term and was serving his final term. Consequently, his lawful tenure expired at midnight on June 8, 2026.
Wasike further faulted the club for failing to begin succession planning before the expiry of the officials’ mandates, despite the approaching deadline being foreseeable.
Invoking powers under Section 45 of the Sports Act, the Registrar ordered Gor Mahia to issue a four-week election notice to members and notify the Registrar’s office. The club must also commence the process of electing a new chairperson and any other officials whose tenure has expired.
Additionally, the election notice must be submitted to the Registrar within two weeks of receiving the directive.
Failure to comply, the Registrar warned, would amount to continued violation of the law and could expose the club to regulatory action.
The decision is likely to trigger intense debate within Kenyan football, particularly over the interpretation of tenure limits and whether similar provisions could affect leaders in other sports federations and clubs.
Rachier has been one of the most influential figures in Gor Mahia’s recent history, overseeing multiple league titles and continental campaigns while also navigating recurring financial and governance challenges.
