Wanjiru Mbugua makes history after grabbing continental tennis seat

Tennis Kenya Secretary General Wanjiru Mbugua Karani achieved another incredible feat in her leadership hat as she was elected the new Vice President of the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) in an elective Annual General Meeting held on Friday afternoon in Nairobi, Kenya.

Wanjiru fended off close competition from Mahamoud Zayya from Comoros to bag the continental seat after garnering 6 votes to 5, becoming the first woman in history to hold the position in the East African region.

The former tennis player, who has also picked as the Team Kenya Chief Executive Officer to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, battled through the elections which needed to be settled over two rounds of voting with the first round ending in a 5-5 tie with one spoilt vote.

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The round two success in the voting saw Wanjiru go one better as she emerged triumphant to clinch the CAT Vice President seat that sees her also automatically become the East African President.

“I am extremely excited to be the first woman President of this zone and the second one in Africa which means a lot. My passion for the game means I am the right person for this job and I promise to do my best. I always try to give more than 100% and I promise to continue doing so.

I see so much potential within us and I am very eager to sit down with all the countries to find out the challenges they are facing and how we are going to help them because I have dreamt of this opportunity,” Wanjiru said.

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Wanjiru will now replace the outgoing Patrick Gichira who held the position for the last twelve years.

Elsewhere, Benin’s Jean Claude Talon was elected the new CAT President with 25 votes against Nelson Amanze of Botswana who managed 12 votes.

The result also had to go through a second round of voting with the first one failing to meet the three-quarter of votes threshold.

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PRESIDENTIAL VOTES

Bening Jean Claude Talon wins CAT Presidency with 25 votes against Nelson Amanze of Botswana 12 votes.

First round when for a runoff

16 Jean Claude Talon – Benin

12 Nelson Amanze - Botswana

9 Issa Mboup of Senegal

Second vote - FINAL

Jean Clean Talon 25-12 Nelson Amanze

Second round of voting. Wanjiru Mbugua Karani voted in Eastern Africa President and Vice President of Confederation of African Tennis with 6 votes against Comoros Mahamoud Zayya 5.

1st round was 5-5 with one spoilt vote.