11 June, 2025

Mr Herbert Mensah,

President

Rugby Africa

RE: PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF THE KENYA RUGBY UNION BOARD AND APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

We, the undersigned stakeholders in Kenya’s rugby fraternity, acting in good faith and in the best interest of the sport, hereby submit this petition to World Rugby seeking urgent and direct intervention in the governance crisis facing the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU).

We are a collective of former national team players, coaches, administrators, referees, club leaders, and supporters, operating under the informal banner of Kenya Rugby Legends and supported by many across the country who love and serve the game.

We are gravely concerned by the ongoing mismanagement and erosion of integrity at KRU. It is our considered view that the current Board is no longer fit to discharge its mandate and must be replaced to safeguard the future of rugby in Kenya.

 
GROUNDS FOR THIS PETITION

Conflict of Interest and Undisclosed Insider Dealings
Members of the current KRU Board have been credibly accused of engaging in commercial transactions with the Union through undisclosed proxies. This breach of governance ethics has not been addressed transparently and points to gross misconduct.
Forgery of CRB Clearance Certificates
Some individuals currently serving on the Board are alleged to have submitted forged Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) certificates in order to meet the eligibility requirements for election. These actions undermine the legitimacy of the Union’s leadership and compromise the rule of law within the organization.
Misuse of Union Resources
The rugby community has witnessed continued abuse of Union funds, particularly in the form of lavish and unnecessary international travel and allowances by elected officials, at the expense of management, grassroots development and player welfare.
Total Loss of Trust by the Rugby Community
The current Board has lost the moral authority and trust of the clubs, players, and fans it purports to represent. Rugby development has stalled, communication is broken, and the spirit of accountability is absent.
 
OUR PRAYERS TO WORLD RUGBY

In light of the above, and in accordance with your responsibility as the global custodian of the game, we humbly submit the following prayers:

That World Rugby immediately dissolves the current Kenya Rugby Union Board, due to gross misconduct, electoral fraud, and a collapse in stakeholder trust.
That World Rugby appoints a credible, independent Interim Management Committee to oversee the Union’s operations for a fixed transitional period, restore order, and guide the Union to fresh and fair elections.
That World Rugby dispatches a governance and compliance team to investigate financial conduct, administrative practices, and governance violations at KRU, and to assist the Interim Committee with oversight and systems review.
That World Rugby freezes further funding and disbursements to KRU until the above governance issues are addressed and safeguards put in place to protect public and international funds.
That World Rugby provides technical assistance in designing and executing a new Constitution incorporating transparent electoral process, with independent vetting of candidates and supervision by neutral observers.
That World Rugby facilitates stakeholder engagement during the transitional period, including consultations with clubs, unions, former players, women’s rugby representatives, referees, and youth development leaders.
 
CONCLUSION

Kenyan rugby is in crisis — not from lack of talent or opportunity, but from a complete breakdown in governance and credibility. The current Board no longer represents the hopes, values, or future of the game. We turn to World Rugby with urgency and hope, seeking your intervention before irreparable damage is done.

We remain committed to working with any structures you may establish to rebuild the game we all love — grounded in integrity, transparency, and service.

 
SIGNED BY:
Former Union Officials, Club Captains, Club Officials, Referee Representatives, Coaches, Volunteers, Rugby Lovers, Governance Enthusiasts. Patriots.

CC:

Coralie van den Berg                          -Regional Partnership Manager, Africa, World Rugby

David Carrigy                                     - Chief of International Federation, World Rugby

Alan Gilpin                                          - CEO, World Rugby

Brett Robinson                                   - Chair, World Rugby

Kristy Coventry                                  - President-elect, International Olympics Committee

Hon Salim Mvurya EGH                     - Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sport - Kenya

Francis Mutuku                                   - Secretary General, National Olympics Committee, Kenya

Paul Tergat                                          - President, National Olympics Committee, Kenya