The Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) elections were halted on Friday by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) for non-compliance with the federation's statutes and the Sports Act.
The polls could not continue, according to the John Ohaga-led tribunal, since just four counties met the legal conditions to participate in the National Executive Committee (NEC) election in KVF, prompting the tribunal to halt the polls on Saturday, April 29.
The organization's constitution needs officials elected from 47 counties to participate in the sport's national office election, and the 14 plaintiffs successfully argued that without the county-based branch delegates, the Saturday event was null and void.
The SDT extended the incumbent KVF office bearers' terms for another three months and directed that branch elections be placed first before the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on July 29, when the national executive committee will be elected.
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KVF had requested the tribunal dismiss the case and allow the elections to proceed as planned to avoid embargoes from international entities.
Suppose the elections are not held within the specified time frame. In that case, international volleyball bodies may sanction Kenya by barring the national women's volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, from international competitions such as the FIVB Challenger Cup in July and the Africa Nations Championship in August.
Both championships will serve as qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
