KENYA GOLF UNION WELCOMES NEW OFFICIALS AFTER SURPRISE-FILLED CONTEST
Handover of the KGU Shield to the new chairman David Ngugi
By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS
Golfers across the country at the weekend elected new officials to spearhead the Kenya Golf Union (KGU), their umbrella body for the next couple of years.
The exercise that was held at the Muthaiga Golf Club saw the ushering in of new faces tasked to steer the sport to the next level.
The Board will now be chaired by David Ndungu from Limuru Golf Club and deputized by Thika Sports Club’s Chris Kinuthia, following the elections. Ndungu is replacing Phillip Ocholla whose term came to an end.
“As the new chairman of KGU, my commitment is to ensure that the Union continues to play its role in making one-golf a reality. We aim to build on proper and solid foundations that will serve the sport for years to come. We are all on the same side, and we all want the same outcome. Having different approaches to how that outcome is achieved doesn’t make us adversaries; it makes us teammates and it just means we are human,” said Ndungu.
The hotly contested elections served as a big shake-up for the union, with newcomers putting up a strong fight to unsettle incumbents.
The biggest surprise was the entry of Peter Mwaura, a former Captain and Chairman at Ruiru Sports Club. He clinched 73 votes out of the 95 who voted, coming second after Mombasa Golf Club’s James Gitonga who was serving KGU as the representative for the Coast Region.
Mwaura, who is in charge of Communications at KCB Group has been a regular feature in golf leadership for the past eight years, having served his Club in several capacities.
The elections saw three sitting KGU officials sent home- former ICT Principal Secretary Sammy Itemere (Royal Nairobi), Ndiga Kithae (Thika Greens), and Francis Wambua (Golf Park).
Windsor’s Karugu Macharia will serve as the Union’s Treasurer while the Secretary will be Brian Akun from Vet Lab Golf Club after he beat Wambua to the position, garnering 55 votes against Wambua’s 39.
The other KGU Executives elected were Jonathan Marucha (Railways Golf Club Chairman), Robert Ngugi (Muthaiga), Weldon Mutai (Sigona), and Liban Roba from Karen Country Club.
“The Kenya Golf Union congratulates all the elected officials and extends heartfelt gratitude to all members who participated in the election process. Their dedication and active involvement are crucial in fostering a vibrant and thriving golf community in Kenya,” read a statement from the union.
It went ahead: “The Kenya Golf Union looks forward to a prosperous term under the new leadership and anticipates significant strides in the development of golf in Kenya.”
The newly elected officials are:
Chairman: David Ndungu
Vice Chairman: Chris Kinuthia
Hon. Treasurer: Karugu Macharia
Hon. Secretary: Brian Akun
The KGU Executives include:
• James Gitonga: 75 votes
• Peter Mwaura: 73 votes
• Jonathan Marucha: 70 votes
• Robert Ngugi: 62 votes
• Weldon Mutai: 49 votes
• Liban Roba: 49 votes