Top AK men launch Daegu probe
Athletics Kenya Eastern Branch chairman Paul Mutwii in a past function. Twelve out of AK’s 16 branches on September 20, 2014 called a meeting to discuss financial impropriety at the head office. PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
- We called the meeting to investigate what happened in Daegu, says body’s VP Mutwii
- The AK men also met officials from the newly-formed Professional Athletics Association of Kenya (PAAK) to familiarise themselves with the activities of the group.
- AK duped the Government into releasing Sh18 million to cater for travelling and accommodation costs of the country’s contingent to the World Championships.
Chairmen from 12 of the 16 Athletics Kenya (AK) branches on Saturday met in Nairobi to discuss alleged financial impropriety at the head office.
The AK men also met officials from the newly-formed Professional Athletics Association of Kenya (PAAK) to familiarise themselves with the activities of the group.
AK Eastern branch chairman Paul Mutwii said they convened the meeting to investigate reports that officials from the head office duped the Government into releasing Sh18 million for the 2011 Daegu World Championships.
“We called the meeting to investigate what happened in Daegu with a view of taking further action,” Mutwii said. “We shall communicate later on the steps we intend to take.”
Mutwii, who is also one of the AK’s vice presidents, declined to give more details from the meeting.
Three weeks ago, the Daily Nation exclusively reported how Athletics Kenya had received Sh18 million from the Government despite the local committee for the 2011 Daegu World Championships having sponsored the trip.
PAAK HAS GOOD INTENTIONS
AK duped the Government into releasing Sh18 million to cater for travelling and accommodation costs of the country’s contingent to the World Championships. This was despite the fact that the organisers were meeting all expenses related to the tournament.
On PAAK, Mutwii said: “From our discussions, PAAK have good intentions and their ideas are for the betterment of athletes’ welfare in the country.”
The chairmen met PAAK officials only a day after they had sought audience with AK president Isaiah Kiplagat demanding reports of audited accounts dating back to 2011.
“We met the chairmen since they wanted to know what we have been doing in their regions. All is well as we have good intentions. Our plans are clear,” said Gilbert Kiplom, the PAAK national acting secretary general and Nairobi region chairman.
“We want to ensure athletics is administered professionally, not through dictatorship. We want all athletes to benefit from their sweat down to the grassroots through good management,” said Kiplom.
(READ: Govt to probe Sh18m AK scam)
The Government has directed Sports Kenya and the Department of Sports to investigate alleged anomalies in cash disbursement to athletics team for the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.
