Nairobi — There will be no change of tenants at Riadha House for the next four years. Isaiah Kiplagat and his entire team retained their seats as Athletics Kenya held its national elections Thursday, thereby receiving a fresh mandate to manage athletics affairs in the country.

Kiplagat faced opposition from former world 3,000m steeplechase champion Moses Kiptanui for the chairman's position.

Kiptanui was no match for Kiplagat, who received endorsement from 55 delegates against Kiptanui's eight.

Secretary general David Okeyo and treasurer Joseph Kinyua also got the thumbs up from the delegates to stay in office until 2012.

Kiplagat's victory was the fourth in a row, having taken over the chairman's position from Paul Boit in 1992, a resounding vote of confidence that his critics will find hard to swallow.

Four years ago, Kiplagat overcame another spirited fight from former athlete Moses Tanui, a one-time Boston Marathon champion.

Tanui was locked out of the ballot by a technicality in the AK constitution.

Long serving secretary general Okeyo will resume his duties at the secretariat after he trounced his only opponent Robert Ouko, who could only manage seven votes.

Former national coach Mike Kariuki had withdrawn his candidature for the post before the election.

Joseph Kinyua's reign as treasurer was reaffirmed as he beat former assistant treasurer Francis Afundi with ease.

Kinyua, who has gained respect from delegates following his policy of distributing part of the association's resources to branches in grants, received 53 votes while Afundi got 10.

Three officials returned to office unopposed.

Ibrahim Hussein did not get a challenger for the assistant secretary general's post.

Peter Angwenyi, the public relations officer, and Dimmy Kisalu, the assistant treasurer, did not have any opponents either.

Angwenyi will serve his second term after he ousted Francis Nyatome in 2004 while Kisalu was promoted from a council member to assistant treasurer, taking over from Afundi.

The assistant chairman's seat went to Jack Tuwei and Southern chairman Paul Mutwi.

Kenya Police athletics chief Jonathan Kosgei and outgoing Aleph Kimani were unsuccessful in their bid.

Single vote

Tuwei will serve as the first vice-chairman after he got 51 votes while Mutwi will be the second vice-chairman after receiving 47 votes.

Kosgei got 20 votes while Kimani could only manage a single vote.

The committee member's seat went to incumbent and former national coach Dan Muchoki. He will serve together with Henry Aluhaba and Benjamin Njoga.

Muchoki received 31 votes, Aluhaba got 26 while Njoga took 28 votes. Both Nairobi branch chairman Sarah Kiwanuka and Kenya Prisons' David Kilundo were unsuccessful in their bid to defend their seats.

The council members are James Rapenda, Omar Hassan and John Wachira. Incumbent David Mieno was voted out.

Former World 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Patrick Sang retained his athletes' representative's slot while Kiptanui's life member representative position will now have to be filled during the national championship.