Cricket Kenya (CK) has fired its chief executive Ronald Bukusi and removed three directors, among them former national team star Thomas Odoyo, in a sweeping shake-up that the federation's board says is aimed at restoring financial discipline and compliance with the law.

The decisions, made public on Monday, followed two board meetings, the most recent held on Friday, October 23, and a ruling by the federation's Independent Disciplinary and Ethics Committee (IDEC) dated October 20, according to The Standard and Capital FM.

Why Bukusi was fired

The IDEC had been examining complaints touching on the handling of federation funds, the state of compliance records and a proposed affiliation with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK). It upheld the allegation of financial mismanagement against Bukusi, citing concerns over financial reporting, expenditure records and management accountability.

Acting on those findings, the board cited financial mismanagement, weak financial controls and governance, and failures to comply with Chapter Six of the Constitution in relation to board appointments and ratifications. "The employment contract between Cricket Kenya and Ronald Bukusi is hereby terminated with immediate effect," the board said in its resolution, as quoted by The Standard.

Bukusi's tenure had been turbulent almost from the start. He joined the federation in late 2024 and, in 2025, was suspended by a rival faction that included then-chairman Manoj Patel and the CK Council after he opposed a T20 league organised by AOS Sports, a tournament he had described as illegal and unsanctioned under International Cricket Council rules, Capital FM reported.

Directors removed over Chapter Six papers

Odoyo, Beryl Oyugi and Mansukh Hirani lost their seats over compliance failures. The board said they had not submitted the Chapter Six integrity documents required under the CK constitution and had therefore automatically forfeited their appointments.

According to Capital FM, Odoyo had not provided a clearance certificate from a credit reference bureau or a signed Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission form, while he and Hirani did not certify the Chapter Six documents they submitted on October 14. The board said the three had responded to directives from the chair and the IDEC by challenging the process instead of complying.

Odoyo is one of the most recognisable names in Kenyan cricket, having been a key all-rounder in the national team that reached the semi-finals of the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Who takes over

Former Kenyan cricketer and board member Tariq Iqbal has been named acting CEO pending the recruitment of a substantive chief executive. The chairman will lead a three-member sub-committee expected to shortlist candidates within 60 days.

Weldon Cheruiyot Mutai replaces Hirani on the board, while Sarah Mayaka takes Oyugi's seat. A replacement for Odoyo is still being sought.

The board has also changed the federation's bank signatories. Chairman Bhavesh Gohil and vice-chairperson Pearlyne Omamo must now jointly sign all transactions, with board minutes describing them as "the sole persons authorised" to deal with CK's bank accounts.

The changes are to be ratified at an annual general meeting scheduled for December 19.

Turmoil on and off the field

The boardroom upheaval comes at a difficult time for the national team, whose hopes of qualifying for the next World Cup suffered a fresh setback after another poor showing at the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League. Kenyan cricket, once a force among associate nations, has struggled for years with leadership wrangles that have repeatedly drawn the attention of the sport's global governing body.

Bukusi and the three affected directors had not publicly responded to the board's decisions by the time of publication.

Photos: Capital FM; The Standard