Joe Onsando has withdrawn from the Kenya Rugby Union (KR) to give former vice-chairman and director Sasha Mutai repreive to capture the chairman’s post.
In the once two horse race to the chairman’s position, the language has changed and Onsando withdrawal gives Mutai an upper chance to be elected unopposed at the polls set for Friday.
The former Kenya harlequins chairman unveiled his manifesto but said he chose to step down ‘after careful consideration’.
In a statement, Onsando said: “Throughout the campaign period, I have reached out to several candidates and affiliates with a message of all of us uniting to endorse one board at the Annual General Meeting.”
“This would send a strong message of unity and commitment to good governance to our partners and create an appeal that would attract back sponsors to the game. Our solutions for rugby cannot come from the semantics of a divisive election, on the backdrop of a court process.”
He noted: “I believe our solution lies in unity and drawing on the diverse knowledge and relationships that exist within the rugby community for the betterment of our game. It is with this in mind that I have in the past two weeks tried to find a third way out of the current impasse. Unfortunately, I have not succeeded as positions have become calcified over time.”
“After careful consideration and consultation with key stakeholders and partners of the game, I would like to withdraw my candidature from what is likely to be a divisive election,” he added.
“I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to consider my leadership and to share information on the opportunity.