Court asks Wario, AG to respond to Nock suit

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario and the Attorney-General have seven days to respond to a case in which officials of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) have sued them for disbanding the team.

High Court judge George Odunga directed that Mr Wario and the AG should ensure they respond to the case filed by Nock chairman Kipchoge Keino, secretary-general Francis Kinyiri and treasurer Fridah Shiroyah.

The case had come up on Wednesday for further directions but since the sued parties had not yet responded, the judge gave them seven more days to do so.

According officials of the now defunct Nock, Mr Wario was deflecting blame regarding his conduct at the just concluded Olympic Games at Rio in Brazil when he opted to disband the said committee.

They argued that the CS has no powers under the Sports Act to unilaterally disband Nock or any other sports federation.

ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION

They claimed that the August 25 decision was unlawful, is against fair administrative action and was made in bad faith.

“I believe that Mr Wario’s action of disbanding Nock was for ulterior reasons and was aimed at shielding himself from the strong public criticism he has faced for the many blunders that have marked his tenure,” Mr Keino said.

They further alleged that the disbandment has put sports activities and development in the country at a standstill and that Kenya risks being banned by the International Olympic Committee.

They said the CS should have officials to explain whatever anomalies he felt had occurred,” Mr Keino added.

The three have been charged in a separate criminal over abuse of office and alleged theft of sports kits provided by sporting apparel firm Nike.
The case will be mentioned on October 24.