Patrick Obath Appointed Chairman of Kenya Open Golf Limited
With Obath as captain and a dedicated board, KOGL is poised to entrench its legacy while seeking new opportunities to grow in Kenya’s golfing landscape.
Obath is a familiar figure in Kenya’s golfing circles, having served as Tournament Director of the Magical Kenya Open since 2011.Photo Courtesy
By Juliet Jerotich
Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) has announced the appointment of Patrick Obath as the new Chairman, marking a new beginning in the company’s leadership that oversees the Magical Kenya Open tournament.
Obath is not new to Kenya’s golfing fraternity, having served as the Magical Kenya Open’s Tournament Director since 2011. During his tenure, he played a key role in elevating the competition to international standards, where he successfully negotiated to have it incorporated into the DP World Tour and put Kenya on the map as a world-class golfing destination.
His appointment follows the retirement of long-serving board members Peter Kanyago and Finance Director Joe Wangai. Kanyago, a member of KOGL since 2004, and Wangai, who was appointed to the board in 2011, have been instrumental in the growth and development of the company into a globally recognized tournament organizer. Neither of them stood for re-election during the recent Annual General Meeting to pave the way for a smooth change in leadership.
Obath will now lead a board comprising Ronald Meru, Lucas Marang’a, Zuhura Ogada, Faith Kanaga, Francis Okwara, Regina Gachora, Chris Kinuthia, and Brian Akun. The two vacancies occasioned by the exit of Kanyago and Wangai will be filled via an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), where applications will be invited and a formal nomination process will guide the appointment of new directors.
As the organizing body responsible for hosting the Magical Kenya Open, KOGL remains committed to building sports tourism, increasing local golfing talent, and leveraging the sport as an economic and social development stimulant.
Obath set out his vision for the organization in the future in his first speech as Chairman:
“Having achieved the goal of raising golf’s profile in Kenya’s sporting and economic landscape, our focus now is to develop local players, foster stronger partnerships, and inspire future generations of golfers,” he continued.
With Obath as captain and a dedicated board, KOGL is poised to entrench its legacy while seeking new opportunities to grow in Kenya’s golfing landscape.
KOGL continues to be the main organizer of the Magical Kenya Open, the premier event on the DP World Tour, fostering golf in Kenya through professional tournament management, strategic alliances, and community initiatives.
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