Athletes to receive allowances

Members of the Kenyan team to the Commonwealth Games will start receiving their allowances this morning, Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch has said.

And yesterday, the Government moved to allay fears that the players may not get their allowances in time after members of the national boxing team cried foul over non payment of their overseas allowances.

The boxers are uncomfortable with an earlier government proposal that they money be sent to their bank accounts.

But Oluoch Thursday said the Government would pay half of the overseas allowances due to each member of Team Kenya today in cash. “I call upon the team not to panic.

This involves a lot of money and that is why it is taking time clear,” Oluoch said. “Just be patient, concentrate on training and desist from anything that would hamper good performance.”

Necessary paper work

Oluoch said pending allowances owed to athletes and medallists’ cash awards will be paid after completion of the necessary paper work. The games will be held from July 23 to August 4 in Glasgow, Scotland and the first batch of the team which includes Sevens rugby players, judo and shooting squad, leaves tomorrow.

The 195 athletes will each receive Sh522,000 (US$ 6,000) for the 24 days they will be in Glasgow. The boxers lamented that they are yet to get allowances from the 2013 Africa Championships in Mauritius and the 2013 World Championships in Sri Lanka. Medallists from the 2013 Moscow World Championships in athletics have not also received their cash rewards.

On Tuesday, Team Kenya captain Ezekiel Kemboi raised the issue when Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario handed the national flag to the team.

Gold medallist from the World Championships and Commonwealth Games are entitled to Sh500,000 from the Government. Silver medallist get Sh300,000 and bronze medalists Sh200,000.