PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Kenya's former sports minister, Olympic officials charged over Rio Olympic sleaze
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya's former Sports minister Hassan Wario, senior ministry officials and then President of National Olympic Committee, Kipchoge Keino, are to face prosecution for the embezzlement of funds meant for the Kenyan Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro, the state prosecutor said Saturday.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, said six officials, including the former minister, should face prosecution for embezzlement and abuse of office.
The six officials have been cited for the embezzlement of Ksh55 million (US$550,000) meant for the upkeep of the national Olympic team during the 2016 Games in Rio, Brazil.
"Athletics is an important sporting activity which has put the country in the world map as Kenya is recognized worldwide for its prowess in athletics and producing world class athletes," Haji said in a statement Saturday.
"The impact of corruption and siphoning of the funds meant for the facilitation of our athletes has an impact on their ability to perform optimally," Haji said.
The officials to be prosecuted are Richard Ekai, former Principal Secretary in the Sports Ministry; Harun Komen Chebet, former Director of Administration at the Sports Ministry; Stephen Kiptanui arap Soi, Chief of Mission and Deputy Treasurer at NOCK; Patrick Nkabu, former finance officer at the Sports ministry and Francis Kanyili Paul, former NOCK Secretary-General; and NOCK President, the legendary athlete Kipchoge Keino.
The former Sports minister disbanded the NOCK immediately after the Rio Olympic Games.
The Rio fiasco saw some team members stranded after the games and in some instances, team members did not have accreditation to access venues because the team had some imposters who were fraudulently awarded the accreditation meant for the athletes.
The Prosecutor said there was sufficient evidence to charge the officials with abuse of office, embezzlement and the violation of the government's financial regulations.
The charges related to the purchase of air tickets at inflated costs, purchase of tickets which were not used worth US $160,000, over-payment of allowances worth US $159,000 and the embezzlement of US$220,00.
The leadership of the Olympic delegation are also facing the additional charge of spending US$60,000 on paying cronies who travelled to Rio Olympic Games on the government budget without authorisation.
During investigation, authorities seized Olympic Games kits and other merchandise from the homes of the Olympic Committee members while the officials insisted the companies awarded the contract to provide them delayed in making them available to the team.
The DPP said the officials should immediately be arraigned in Court. They are expected to immediately surrender to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Nairobi before 15 Oct or face arrest after the issuance of arrest warrants,.
For the air tickets, which were valued at double the existing market rates, the DPP said the extra costs should be recovered by the government's asset recovery agency.
The DPP has also called for an investigation into the nature of contract entered into between NOCK and Nike, the sportswear firm.
-0- PANA AO/AR 13Oct2018
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, said six officials, including the former minister, should face prosecution for embezzlement and abuse of office.
The six officials have been cited for the embezzlement of Ksh55 million (US$550,000) meant for the upkeep of the national Olympic team during the 2016 Games in Rio, Brazil.
"Athletics is an important sporting activity which has put the country in the world map as Kenya is recognized worldwide for its prowess in athletics and producing world class athletes," Haji said in a statement Saturday.
"The impact of corruption and siphoning of the funds meant for the facilitation of our athletes has an impact on their ability to perform optimally," Haji said.
The officials to be prosecuted are Richard Ekai, former Principal Secretary in the Sports Ministry; Harun Komen Chebet, former Director of Administration at the Sports Ministry; Stephen Kiptanui arap Soi, Chief of Mission and Deputy Treasurer at NOCK; Patrick Nkabu, former finance officer at the Sports ministry and Francis Kanyili Paul, former NOCK Secretary-General; and NOCK President, the legendary athlete Kipchoge Keino.
The former Sports minister disbanded the NOCK immediately after the Rio Olympic Games.
The Rio fiasco saw some team members stranded after the games and in some instances, team members did not have accreditation to access venues because the team had some imposters who were fraudulently awarded the accreditation meant for the athletes.
The Prosecutor said there was sufficient evidence to charge the officials with abuse of office, embezzlement and the violation of the government's financial regulations.
The charges related to the purchase of air tickets at inflated costs, purchase of tickets which were not used worth US $160,000, over-payment of allowances worth US $159,000 and the embezzlement of US$220,00.
The leadership of the Olympic delegation are also facing the additional charge of spending US$60,000 on paying cronies who travelled to Rio Olympic Games on the government budget without authorisation.
During investigation, authorities seized Olympic Games kits and other merchandise from the homes of the Olympic Committee members while the officials insisted the companies awarded the contract to provide them delayed in making them available to the team.
The DPP said the officials should immediately be arraigned in Court. They are expected to immediately surrender to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Nairobi before 15 Oct or face arrest after the issuance of arrest warrants,.
For the air tickets, which were valued at double the existing market rates, the DPP said the extra costs should be recovered by the government's asset recovery agency.
The DPP has also called for an investigation into the nature of contract entered into between NOCK and Nike, the sportswear firm.
-0- PANA AO/AR 13Oct2018
