Kenya Rugby Union chairman resigns

Sasha Mutai has officially rendered his resignation as the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Chairman, Mozzart Sport can exclusively report.

Mutai tendered his resignation in a KRU Special General Meeting held on Friday 30 May at the RFUEA Grounds.

The decision comes just days after World Rugby had expressed deep concern over persistent internal conflicts, poor governance, and lack of transparency at the federation.

“I can read the room, but I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to defend myself. I am on record for everything that I have said and everything that I have done. I have done my best,” Mutai told delegates at the meeting.

“Maybe I am not a good politician, that is definitely one of my flaws. I am not a dictator, but I have a strong resolution: when I believe in something, I go for it."

His resignation follows weeks of mounting pressure, including a motion fronted by KRU Honorary Secretary Ray Olendo, seeking his immediate suspension over alleged misappropriation of Ksh13.2 million through fraudulent invoices.

The motion also called for a vote of no confidence at the AGM.

Mutai defended his record during his time in office, highlighting strides made under his leadership, including reclaiming lost sponsorships, and the return of the national men’s Sevens team to the World Rugby Sevens Series after relegation.

“I believe we have had a lot of successes since I took over. We were relegated and we are back, getting back sponsorships that were gone, and even now the team is in South Africa getting ready for July,” he noted.

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The outgoing chairman also cited former KRU boss Mwangi Muthee as an inspiration for his decision to resign.

Muthee resigned in May 2021 citing various reasons among them poor working relationship with a section of KRU directors.

“As you said, you own the players. I can read the room, and I also follow the person I look up to, Mwangi Muthee. I also hereby tender my resignation as Chairman of the Kenya Rugby Union," Mutai calmly said.

Mutai’s resignation comes in the wake of a scathing letter from World Rugby, which warned of potential intervention if the Union failed to clean up its governance.

The letter cited a lack of response to previous correspondence, continued infighting, and a failure to present a unified plan to resolve internal issues.

The international governing body also raised concerns over the possibility of a governance vacuum if board positions became vacant without a proper transition framework, stressing the need for transparency and integrity to sustain the sport’s growth in Kenya.

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On the domestic front, the KRU was placed under the microscope by the Senate.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna last week called for a thorough investigation into the Union’s operations, financial dealings, and leadership qualifications, requesting a detailed breakdown of sponsorships and expenditures from 2022 to 2025.

Mutai’s exit now leaves a leadership gap that the Union must urgently fill to avert further uncertainty.

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World Rugby already demanded timely receipt of official AGM minutes and outcomes, warning that prolonged dysfunction may lead to the global body taking direct control or reassessing Kenya’s membership status.

With the national teams preparing for key assignments, including World Cup qualifiers for both Simbas and Lioness, the future of Kenyan rugby now hangs in the balance.

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