Athletes that represented Kenya at the Africa Masters Athletics Championships have protested over their non-payment of their allowances by the government.
The athletes who finished second at the Africa Masters Athletics Championships in Rades , Tunisia, are yet to be paid their allowances which amount to Ksh2 million exactly one month after returning to the country from the continental fiesta.
They said despite asking for their dues there has been no satisfactory answer from the government and Athletics Kenya Masters (AKM) on why they have not been paid.
The athletes called on the new Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed to intervene so that they can get paid.
“We thank the government for fully facilitating our trip where played our part by bringing glory to the country,” they said. They said despite travelling without being paid they put the country first by being patriotic and refused to get distracted by that shortcoming and put Kenya on the continental map by putting up spirited performance.
Kenya comprising of a team of 20 athletes coached by the 1982 World Junior 800m gold medalist Sammy "Skylab" Ruto secured 41 medals which included 31 gold, nine silver and one bronze medal to finish second behind hosts Tunisia which had fielded 180 participants continent at the Nationale de Athletissme Olympic Stadium. “Before we left on February 3rd, we were told to be patient that our allowances will be banked into our accounts by February 6th. We were surprised upon our return that no deposits had been made,” they complained. They added: “So far we have been asking but unfortunately we have not been given any satisfactory as to why and when we shall be paid.”
