Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed has defended her move to audit the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) over Sh245 million African Cup of Nations Championships (AFCON) funds.
She denied claims that the move was politically incited stating that the decision is aimed at addressing issues raised by stakeholders in the game about the happenings at the federation.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Sports, Culture and Tourism Committee, the CS said the audit is a transparent process and is anchored in law.
“We wanted to ensure that the process was legal, just and fair and that no other externalities would impact or influence the process. I just want to assure you that the process is going to be legitimate. That we are going to go through the entire process, do everything that is required so that we don’t jump to conclusions with without due process,” she said.
Amina spoke after Principal Secretary Joe Okudo said the department has invited the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to launch investigations into how FKF president Nick Mwendwa was advanced Sh11 million out of the money between April and November 2019 without requisite authorization.
Committee chairman Patrick Makau (Mavoko) had asked the CS to explain the move behind the selective probe at the federation even as many other sports federations had accountability issues.
In her defence, Amina said the probe will be an open process and will follow the law to the letter.
The DCI was last week allowed by the High Court to investigate FKF president Nick Mwendwa over alleged misappropriation of Sh244.59 million meant for preparations of the Harambee Stars during 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Amina said FKF is not the only federation under scrutiny, saying the ministry has also embarked on streamlining all federations that are not compliant with the Sports Act.
“We have started with the Kenya Cricket Association and now the FKF. Soon we will get to the others, we want to streamline the sports sector,” Amina told members.
She also disclosed that already three other federations were on her ladder saying they had also failed to adhere to the Sports Act.
“There are a few others that we are having discussions with because we feel they are not duly compliant with the Act,” Amina said.
“I will not disclose which one because we are in discussions with them right now. Depending on how far we get, we can see how we can improve the working of some of these federations.”