Nairobi, April 14 (IANS): Long-serving Athletics Kenya (AK) boss Isaiah Kiplagat is leaving his post for three months to campaign to be elected as one of the vice-presidents of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Kiplagat is a council member of the world governing body, and is vying for one of the two IAAF vice-president posts at the General Congress at Beijing in August that will usher in the World Championships at the Chinese capital, reports Xinhua.

The veteran administrator, who was first voted to office in 1992 and won every subsequent quadrennial election, will vacate office on May 1 after leading what he hinted could be his last Annual General Meeting (AGM) at AK on April 30.

"From now you will not see me here. If you see me, I will be transacting business relating to my campaign and or matters concerning IAAF," the septuagenarian said here on Monday.

Former Kenya's armed forces commandant, Lt. General Jackson Tuwei was voted to be the interim president with Paul Mutwii elevated to be the senior deputy president.

"Even if I don't succeed, I'm sure they will be confirmed because it may not be necessary for me to come back anyway. So, in any case I remain a member of the council of IAAF and I will still be an executive member of AK," Kiplagat said of the interim leadership installed as he started the process of his long-awaited succession.