Kenya Rugby : Director Edward Rombo's view on the Kenyan game

Sorry guys have been climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro but now I'm back. As we wish Mwangi Muthee a fruitful ? trip to New Zealand enjoy quotes from KRFU Director and Legal Advisor Edward Rombo aka Eddie the Eagle.

Edward Rombo Atoti! Mambo? Its you that's gone quiet. Wapi whiskey yangu? How have you been? Long time no see or hear. I'm okay back to business. Hope you are well.

Edward Rombo Hi Gibbo Im okay back home in Kenya. Still a solicitor and coach a little rugby union. Also an official of KRU which keeps me very busy.

Edward Rombo Supersport are a waste of time and exploiting KRU. They give nothing to the sport. A contract was signed where they give nothing to KRU. So what if Zuku are their competitors did KRU give Zuku any deal to air games? Its plain blackmail by Supersport and we lose nothing at all. Let them go and concentrate on GorMahia and Sofapaka.

Edward Rombo

Bell there is no need to get abusive. I know you and your likes view things in terms of the spectators point of view and don't look at the underlying issues perhaps because you may not be aware of the proper facts. KRU had no reason to suspect that Supersport would interfere or show disapproval at the fact that we got a sponsor for a match. Zuku merely offered to sponsor and market the Zimbabwe game with Nyayo Stadium as the focal point as the stadiums management are trying to market the stadium for possible rugby matches. It had nothing to do with infringing on Supersports rights after all Zuku are not broadcasting the game or anything of the sort. This is a clear case of a party trying to dictate to KRU on what other sponsor it can get even when it doesn't in any way impinge on their contract. Zuku have not interfered with Supersport on any way. They are only marketing one game for Nyayo Stadium and giving KRU much needed income. You mauls argue that broadcasting the game worldwide is good for the fans and the world but is it good for us KRU or the teams involved when we get nothing from it not even a single cent? The alternative view is that Supersport are getting free content and exploiting Kenyan rugby. They ought to have at least given back something to the sport. Is not as if Supersport airs the games for free. Its clients pay for the services so why not channel some of that money to the sport? Yes Bell i am educated enough to see and understand some of the issues critically and unlike you i do not view things like a spectator. Supersport had no reason to take the action they did and that is my personal view not KRUs.

Edward Rombo

Hellen nobody has waged any war on sponsors we value them and as I've stated KRU is always looking for more including Zuku! But when one sponsor attempts to block others does the game stop because of that? If Safaricom or Kenya Airways pullout it will not be because KRU has fought any of them. We all know Kenya Airways have not been happy at the latest results with the 7s team. That is why changes have been made in the team with a view to obtaining better results and if possible get even more sponsors on board. As for Safaricom i don't know what beef there could be to make them pull out but one thing i.know the ordinary boy and girl that aspires to play rugby will continue to do so where the corporates are there or not. That ambition to play rugby and keep the clubs going is the core objective of the union. Corporates come and go and we've seen many come and go. What is important is that rugby be continued at the clubs and schools. Over and out.

Edward Rombo

Ojiambo once again let me repeat Zuku are only marketing the game for Nyayo Stadium. They have not in any way encroached on Supersports mandate to broadcast the match. Please do not intertwine or mix the two. Broadcasting and marketing aretwo separate issues. KRU has not breached any agreement with Supersport. Why Supersport would choose to act that way only because Zuku are al alleged competitor is beyond me. Zuku are not broadcasting the game. Yes Constant the people making the most noise about this have a low regard to the players and game in general. They are fans who are worried their convenience of watching matches in pubs as they drink the evening away is being eroded! Its nothing to do with the love of the sport or the players. Its their own interests. They have put a low value to the players and the game and will pander to the corporates at every whim. Corporates do not make the game. They instead jump on its back and take a ride when things are going well! In this instance we have one corporate trying to fight another using KRU. They don't care that we need the money they are only interested in their own corporate values which is not rugby.

Edward Rombo And now that Zuku has taken up the challenge to cover the game and feed it to any interested terrestrial station for broadcasting for free isn't this what taking the game to the people is all about rather than where its limited to the few rich that can afford satellite dishes?

Edward Rombo Zach it is well known that KRU was run by two individuals who didn't bring things to the board. Look at the Supersport deal for example. Its existence was at first denied until Muthee had to get a copy of the agreement from Supersport after which it became clear why nobody wanted to talk about it. There are several other such deals which were struck by one or two individuals without knowledge of the board and certainly not in the interests of the union. We all know who they are so perhaps all queries should.be directed to them. It was no.secret that the auditors report at the last AGM revealed that KRU was technically insolvent!

Edward Rombo And while at it rather than blame directors who do not handle money what do you say about these individuals that clubs continued to elect even after some of the suspect dealings were unearthed? They even recently attempted a coup KFF/ FKL style!

Edward Rombo When the new board takes action we are accused of witchhunting and attacked in all social sites! Its no secret that the previous board was by and large made up of stooges who looked the other way at the impunity.

Edward Rombo And AB its not as if we all kept quiet and did nothing about it. The recent changes in the board came about by planning and strategizing politically rather than making noise in the press or social sites which does not help. The bIg question to ask is where were the stake holders ie the clubs when all these things were going on? Its not as if these debts were a secret. Where were the clubs? Even now some are busy resisting the changes and trying to bring down the chairman. Why haven't clubs called for an SGM despite these issues coming to their attention? Instead the ire is directed at board members who have no power to remove elected officials. The power lies with clubs not directors. If they play politics at the expense of rugby then we get what we deserve!

Edward Rombo Zack all this talk of "coporate governance" "stimulus package" "vision 2030" etc etc are lofty ideals that mean little to the Kenyan psyche. You know well it has never mattered even from your days as an official of KRU! To suggest to me that I should resign merely because someone else that I have little or no control over has done evil is a very defeatist attitude. You resign and go away and leave the crook continuing with evil! Worse still he is then reelected to continue his bad ways! Its like walking off a game merely because the opponent has scored an offside goal! Kenyans only understand basic issues like my tribe my club! Everything else is thrown out of the window! Some of the people who want to use all means to take over KRU have skeletons in their histories at club or even college level! We are better off staying in and fighting the rot as we are trying to do now. These debts from what we have come to find out stem from as far as 10 years ago. Yes we are busy doing audits to try and explain these issues and these figures could even go higher. I sometimes am very puzzled what it is people fight for!

Edward Rombo Sadik I find it very contradictory when on one hand you state that all should resign yet on the other had you are intent on reinstating an individual that has been suspended for the same issues dealing with corporate governance that you advocate for! Just where is your stand or is it just the usual politics ir alluded to in my previous posting? When you refer to independent bodies to investigate issues are you suggesting that we should conduct our affairs through KACC or CID or parliament? Must we set up a commission of inquiry to deal with obvious facts that have come to light? Do you police to tell you something is badly amiss when vital records contracts correspondences are hidden or discarded deliberately by people mandated to keep them? Is that what corporate governance is about?

Edward Rombo Sadik and Zack nobody has claimed that any funds have been stolen or embezzled. All we are.saying is that there are debts some of which are not clear how they were incurred. At the last AGM a debt of Ksh 1.4m caused a rift because it wasn't explained sufficiently even the auditor couldn't explain. Some debts are explained like that incurred on the JWRT that was held here. Others relate to purchase of a plot of land. Agreed Sadik clubs have usually passed the accounts after SGMs called for that purpose. It boils down to what I keep stating that ultimately the clubs must play their role in scrutinizing and acting appropriately when some issues arise eg removal or reprimanding of officials. The constitution does not allow fellow directors to remove another. It can only be done by clubs in an AGM or SGM. Mere resigning of directors is not the solution because ut leaves the crooks with an underhand and able to manipulate things politically.

Edward Rombo AB you are the bomb! Sadik of course all debts incurred in the name of the union must be respected and dealt with as debts of the union and we are treating them as such.

Edward Rombo And Sadik regarding the SGM and its postponementI it was deemed inappropriate given that we are finalizing with sponsors etc. But clubs are free to demand and call for it when deemed appropriate.

• Edward Rombo An SGM can be called by members or the board. The chairman is vested with the power of the board and exercises all powers and objects of the union! He has the power to call a meeting and to adjourn it. You should not lose sight that the accounts pending were prepared by the old office.
  
  

  Edward Rombo AB before we embark on any roadmap we must first identify where things went wrong and what governance structures we need to put in place to avoid debts or loss of money. It is not a futile exercise. What is done with the report will be up to the members. Of course the fact that the accounts were prepared by the old office makes a difference because some things the new chairman will not be able to immediately sus things out without the history. Even I have attempted to look at them and can't make head or tail of it. Its only accountants that understand these things!
  
  
  Edward Rombo Zach people are trying to lump all ills on some of us that recently joined the board yet most of these are issues that have been raised over the past few years and the people that ought to have accounted for them have been left scotfree others continually reelected by the same people now crying fowl. How would Muthee be privy to things that have been going on for 5 years? How do you attempt to blame him on that curtain call "blame the board blame the board!" It is well known who handles money and not all of us are privy to what goes on. If a deal can be struck with Supersport and the chairman the signed it the chairman himself without bringing it the board what does that tell you? Do we then resign after we discover these things months later or do we remove the chairman? Can directors remove a chairman? Where is the blame to be apportioned if things are kept from the board? Up to today we've been unable to trace contracts of the GM the 7s coach, players etc! Even the Supersport contract could.not be found until we got a copy from Supersport. The first thing Muthee did was to commission an audit of HR structures which met resistance from the old guard with some even attempting to sabotage the process which led to the GM being suspended. Now we hear some people whining about the GM others want him reinstated! The biggest problem is within KRU and the rugby fraternity. You are all equally culpable.
  
  
  Edward Rombo AB whose duty is it to go after the treasurer? Is it the board or members? Again who has the power to remove a duly elected treasurer? Isn't it members and only members?
  
  
  Edward Rombo Somebody defies the chairmans express instructions and sends the name of a former chairman as the Kenyan delegate to the RWC congress for heads of unions! And some people see nothing wrong in that!
  
  
  Edward Rombo Fair enough AB lump me with all the Babylonians its okay it doesn't faze me because I was not elected by that board neither did I choose who else sits on it. I wasnt there when these debts were incurred and its not as if I saw eye to eye with most of the board members who viewed me as the enemy and outsider. Me who has been through the whole hog in Kenyan rugby! But its all petty politics. When an individual decided to punish Mwamba and Quins using the National Circuit 7s sponsorship and franchise who spoke against it at the board if not me? They attempted to deny Mwamba and Quins a NSC franchise on spurious grounds and I stood against it and it was eventually reversed. Where were the clubs when I was being lynched at the board for going against Omwela and Sabwas unilateral decision that was couched as a board decision? All of you are party to the silly politics that has seen these individuals do whatever they want with impunity. You may take refuge in the notion that you can conveniently blame the board or everybody else but ultimately it is you that elect these people and directors do not.choose who to work with. The GM is under suspension as we look for his contract. Might you know where it is before you declare that he was an employee? We don't even have evidence that he was an appointed employee. Come Next elections you will all be there playing the same petty politics. You will try and elect people with dubious records merely because of club affiliations or even tribe as I've come to learn! Yes all of you!
  
  
  Edward Rombo And yes when the decision to deny Quins and Mwamba the franchise slots by purporting to suddenly put it up for bidding lo and behold there was KCB and Impala ready to bid within a record 12 hours! The usual suspects! What did they know that the rest didn't?
  
  
  Edward Rombo AB for probably the 5th time I remind you some of the matters were kept away from the board and we didn't have knowledge of them. Nobody remained silent on things not within ones knowledge!
  
  
  Edward Rombo Sadik I stand by my sentiments. There are many dealings that were not brought to the board and I have given the example of the Supersport deal. If you left the board in 2006 you would not be in a position to know about the issues I raise that occurred in the last 12 months or so that I have been in the board. Its all well Abdi good to say you were in the panel that interviewed and appointed the GM. I and many of the new board members weren't there so we have to go by records
  
  
  Edward Rombo If a primary document such as a contract can't be found how are we who were not there to know the terms upon which he was appointed? Whose duty is it to maintain and keep records? If I can recall the GM was asked to bring his copy of the contract and to date he has not done so. Or may be you have it? What "misunderstanding" are you referring to with regard to the bidding? Was there a misunderstanding? Of what nature? Someone has decided to suddenly put the two Nairobi legs of the circuit to "competitive bidding"! What criteria nobody knows. Why only the Nairobi legs and not coast or Nakuru etc! Why did the chairman have to go on a breakfast meeting with the chairmen of the affected clubs in the absence of the board? So what happened to the bidding after that? Shelved forever? And how did KCB put in a bid within hours of the sudden announcement? Did you convene a club meeting and quickly deliberate on the matter? Or were you aware beforehand that these two legs would be up for.bidding? Those are the simple questions I have asked. Perhaps you can answer and I will henceforth shut up. Regarding the secretary I remind you that only the members in an SGM can deal with him given that he is an elected official. Its all in the KRU constitution. Removal or reprimanding of an officer can only be done by a resolution of members and not the board. It is not a matter that can be dealt with "internally" as you put it. And when meetings of members are called its not a must that chairmen of clubs attend in case they are busy. You can always send any representative including a player! I.have attended meetings as a Mwamba rep yet have never been chairman.
  
  
  Edward Rombo And just to conclude I am not attacking your club and do.not wish to do so all Im trying to illustrate is how many crucial issues were never brought to the board for deliberations and often decided by individuals. There was this fellow who also decided unilaterally to punish Mwamba for the gross crime of taking its star players to a tournament in Uganda. He by himself decided to deduct money due to Mwamba from the Western Union sponsorship as a punishment! Without any disciplinary process. The union had to back down after threats of court action. A secretary has no powers whatsoever to charge or mete out punishment. For Quins we all know the issues they had regarding their sponsor at the Christies 7s finals. It was therefore not surprising that this bidding process was suddenly introduced to punish the clubs. Impunity by any other name is impunity.
  
  
  Edward Rombo It was the usual hypocrisy that is the common vein that runs across politicians. They can hug and pretend to be friends but the next day its the usual fighting. At least Ngilu didn't pretend. Its not a sign of reconciliation at all to see UK hug Raila. He probably wishes him dead or locked up at the Hague and vice versa!