Wario not to blame for Rio mess, Isiolo leaders say
Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario during a press conference on August 25, 2016 at his office in Nairobi. AFP PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Governor Godana Doyo and gubernatorial aspirant Adan Kabelo said allegations of mismanagement of the Kenyan team during the Olympics contradicted the success Kenya received after it bagged six gold medals compared to two during the London 2012 Olympics.
- The governor who spoke to the press at his office, further blamed National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) for mishandling the team at Rio saying some officials had powerful cartels inside and outside the country hence derailing the work of the CS.
Isiolo leaders have thrown their weight behind embattled Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario over the Rio Olympics mess, and defended him from any wrong doing.
Governor Godana Doyo and gubernatorial aspirant Adan Kabelo said allegations of mismanagement of the Kenyan team during the Olympics contradicted the success Kenya received after it bagged six gold medals compared to two during the London 2012 Olympics.
Governor Doyo said it was unfair to blame the CS for the Rio fiasco since he had been effective in boosting the Sports docket in the last three and half years.
“The CS and his entire team should be lauded instead of being subjected to unfair criticism even after the team performed better than in the previous editions,” said Mr Doyo.
He also faulted Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba for calling for the resignation of Dr Wario saying he was once at the helm of the Sports Ministry and was aware of its numerous challenges.
The governor who spoke to the press at his office, further blamed National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) for mishandling the team at Rio saying some officials had powerful cartels inside and outside the country hence derailing the work of the CS.
The leaders also urged the CS to stay put and disregard calls to resign adding that the entire Northern region was behind him.
“I wish to condemn the witch-hunt and unsubstantiated blame on the CS over the Rio fiasco. The attack on Dr Wario is a diversionary tactic to absolve some individuals in NOCK,” said Mr Kabelo.
They want appropriate measures to be taken to address corruption and the deep-rooted cartels in the Ministry to ensure sustainable sports development.
Mr Kabelo said corrupt officials who have ripped the sports department apart were known adding that the focus should be on NOCK officials instead of the CS.
The leaders further warned MPs against making the CS a ‘scapegoat’ to cover for some of their NOCK corrupt ‘friends’.
Last week, detectives grilled the CS on the Rio fiasco.
