Sports CS summoned to explain ministry's role in Rio debacle

Sports and Culture Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario (left) addresses representatives of sports federations, flanked by Sports Kenya chairman Fred Muteti at the Safaricom Indoor Stadium, Kasarani, on August 29, 2016. MPs have summoned Dr Wario to explain his ministry's role in the Rio scandal. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Three officials including Stephen arap Soi, Francis Paul Kanyili and Pius Ochieng’ were released on a cash bail of Sh200,000 each pending conclusion of investigations.
  • Police have also been given three weeks to complete investigations on the mismanagement of team to Rio.
  • Kenyans on social media have called for the sacking of Mr Wario over the scandal.

A parliamentary committee has summoned Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario to answer questions on the mismanagement of the Kenyan team in the Rio Olympics.

Labour and Social Welfare Committee chairman David Were (Matungu), who led a delegation of 11 members including MPs and parliamentary staff to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, said Mr Wario was expected to appear before the committee on Tuesday to answer questions on the alleged role of the ministry in the Rio Olympics saga.

On Monday, three officials, including Team Kenya’s head of delegation Stephen arap Soi, National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) secretary-general Francis Paul Kanyili and Team Kenya general manager Pius Ochieng’ were released on a cash bail of Sh200,000 each pending the conclusion of investigations.

The police have also been given three weeks to complete investigations into the allegations that three Nock officials might have contributed to the loss of funds, kits and general mismanagement of the team during the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil.

'SHODDY PLANNING'

Mr Were, who was briefing the House on the “Rio fiasco” following a request by National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, said Mr Wario would also be asked to explain the implications of his decision to disband Nock and transfer its role to Athletics Kenya.

Kenyans on social media have called for the sacking of Mr Wario over the scandal, which included theft of athletes’ uniforms, lack of air tickets for several athletes and coaches, and alleged travel of joyriders and officials’ mistresses.

But Mr Wario has claimed he was a mere bystander, blaming Nock, headed by sports legend Kipchoge Keino, for shoddy planning. 

Mr Were said MPs who travelled with him to “watch the Olympics” included Dan Wanyama (Wambuye West), John Kobado (Uriri) and Cornelly Serem (Aldai) and a parliamentary clerk.

The MPs from the Bunge sports team who also travelled to Rio included Benson Mutura (Makadara), Charles Nyamai (Kitui Rural), Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi), Chris Omulele (Luanda) and two clerks.

HOUSE BRIEFING

The Matungu MP told the House his committee was preparing a report on the scandal.

He said athletes had complained to the committee that there were problems with ticketing while others said they were forced to travel without their coaches for lack of air tickets.

Others were forced to make their own travel arrangements after Nock reportedly failed to buy them air tickets, he said.

He said the committee also learnt while in Rio that due to the high number of athletes and officials, accreditation to the Olympic Village was staggered into three segments over a span of three weeks, explaining why some officials had no accreditation.

The number of athletes traveling to Rio had also been reduced but not that of officials, presenting a challenge in securing accreditation for all of them, said the MP.

'GHETTO' HOTEL

One of the officials was deported after he was found using an accreditation card belonging to an athlete and pretending it was his while another found himself in trouble over alleged corruption after he was duped by a group of journalists over doping of athletes.

He reportedly accepted “payment” so as to alert athletes on when doping would be carried out by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

“Our athletes were staying at the Olympic Village with other teams from the US, UK and other countries and were treated equally with the others.

"However, when the village was closed on Tuesday after the end of the Olympic Games on Sunday, they were booked in a hotel which they complained was like a ghetto and of very poor standards,” he said.

He said the athletes had to stay behind as there were no flights on that day to Luanda, Angola, from where they would connect to Nairobi.

Mr Were said Nock officials had blamed Nike, the US sportswear company, for the delay in delivering the kits for Team Kenya, forcing the athletes to wear mismatched uniforms during the opening ceremony.

He added that the team travelled to Rio without sandals, which arrived late and were left behind.