The Sports Registrar has directed Gor Mahia FC to commence the process of electing a new chairman after finding that the maximum eight-year tenure allowed under the law for the office expired on 8 June 2026.

In a letter signed by Sports Registrar Rose M. N. Wasike, the club was instructed to issue a four-week election notice for the position of chairperson. The club has also been given a two-week deadline, ending on 24 June 2026, to submit the notice to both the Registrar and its members.

According to the Registrar, records held by her office show that Gor Mahia received its Certificate of Registration on 8 June 2018, with one of the conditions being that the club conduct elections within 90 days. However, the club’s first election was only held on 8 August 2020.

Wasike noted that Paragraph C of the Second Schedule to the Sports Act, read together with Regulation 20(6) of the Sports Registrar Regulations, provides that elected officials serve a four-year term and may only be re-elected once, effectively setting the maximum tenure at eight years.

“The Chairperson’s allowable tenure expired at midnight on 8th June, 2026,” Wasike stated.

She observed that during the club’s elections held on 13 April 2025, some officials who were re-elected had nearly reached the maximum period permissible under the law. However, she pointed out that Chairman Ambrose Rachier had already completed one full four-year term and was therefore serving his final term.

The Registrar further noted that her office had expected the club to issue election notices before the expiry of the chairman’s tenure but this had not happened.

“It seems the Club ignored the provisions of the law and failed to issue the relevant notices for the purpose of replacing the Chair,” she wrote.

Wasike also criticised the delays that characterised previous elections, saying they reflected negligence, poor leadership and bad governance, which should not be tolerated in sports organisations.

Invoking powers granted under Section 45 of the Sports Act, the Registrar directed Gor Mahia to immediately initiate the process of replacing the outgoing chairman.

“Kindly ensure compliance and submit the election notice to this office within two weeks from the date of this letter to avoid continued contravention of the law and ensure smooth transition,” the Registrar stated.

Rachier, who has led the record Kenyan champions for nearly two decades, is now expected to pave the way for a leadership transition as Gor Mahia moves to comply with the directives issued by the Sports Registrar.