MPs question Sh25 million expenditure by Nock, Sports ministry in Rio

Team Kenya Chef-de-Mission to Rio Olympics Stephen Soi appearing before the National Assembly Labour and Social Welfare Committee over alleged mismanagement of the national team at the Rio Olympics, September 7, 2016 /HEZRON NJOROGE
Team Kenya Chef-de-Mission to Rio Olympics Stephen Soi appearing before the National Assembly Labour and Social Welfare Committee over alleged mismanagement of the national team at the Rio Olympics, September 7, 2016 /HEZRON NJOROGE

MPs on Wednesday demanded to know how Sh25 million was spent by Nock and Sports Ministry officials during the Rio games.

The Labor committee learnt that the sum was deposited by the Sports Ministry into Nock's bank account on August 20 without consultations.

It also emerged that the ministry did not give the purpose for the money.

"The board did not meet to discuss and decide for Sh25 million to be transferred into Nock account and Nock was also not involved by the Sports Ministry," Nock vice president Ben Ekumbo said.

He said there was Sh24 million for accommodation for ministry and Parliament officials, Sh4 million for athletes' medicine and Sh756,000 for delegates' registration meeting.

But the Parliamentary committee questioned why the sum was allocated yet MPs and staff who travelled to Rio had been catered for by Parliament.

Team Kenya's chef de mission Stephen Soi said he departed with the cash packed in luggage to Rio.

He said most of it was spent and that a balance of Sh8 million remained upon arrival from the 18-day Olympic games in Brazil.

MPs then demanded he avails detailed information on how the money was spent and the names of signatories.

But Soi, who is also Nock's deputy treasurer, said upon arrival at JKIA from Rio,

"I don't even know where my luggage is and after being in the hands of CID, I woke up [and found] myself in hospital. The next thing was to be served with court papers," he said.

Nock officials were also at pains to provide the exact number of people in the Kenyan delegation who travelled to Rio de Janeiro.

This arose following allegations that some officials travelled with spouses and other 'joyriders'.

Soi said the total number was 168 but said "there were others I could not account for".

The National Assembly Labour and Social Welfare Committee will continue their probe on September 20.

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