The Sports and Youth Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has said the government will spend a whooping sh150million of claimed players’ ‘welfare’ expenditures during the weeklong 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games set to take place in Trinidad and Tobago between the August 4 and August 11, 2023.
Speaking while flagging off Kenya’s team that will participate games at his office yesterday, Ababu said the colossal amount of taxpayers’ money will be spent to ensure the athletes are well taken care of during the competition.
However, the CS did not give a breakdown on the actual expenditures that will be footed.
“I have faith in how we have prepared for the tournament in the last two weeks. I’m sure the team will make 50 million Kenyans proud by showcasing a good performance. The government has given you full support and will ensure you stay comfortable while on the assignment.” Ababu said.
The team that has been training at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani for the last two weeks are rallying on their heroic performance at the Africa under-18 athletics champions held in Ndola, Zambia, where they finished third, bagging 33 medals to deliver good results in the upcoming games.
“We have prepared well and put in hard work in training. Everyone is focused on making Kenyans proud by delivering as many gold medals as possible.” Team captain Amos Kipkemoi noted.
On his part, head of youth development in Athletics Kenya Barnabas Korir lauded the athletes for the discipline and hard work they have put in place will in camp and is confident they will conquer the world
“This is a golden generation that will make this country proud in the coming years. They are disciplined and we hope they will make us proud.” Korir stated.
Cases of deep rooted corruption have perennially dogged the Sports Ministry over the years.
In 2021, Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario was sentenced to a six-year jail term or pay a fine of Sh3.6 million over his involvement in the 2016 Rio Olympics scandal.
His co-accused Stephen Soi (who headed the Kenyan team to the Olympics at the time) was sentenced to a 10-year jail term or a fine of Sh103 million over misuse of public funds.
Wario was found guilty of abuse of office, that led to loss of public funds during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Soi was found guilty of willfully failing to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines relating to management of public funds as well as abuse of office.
Then Anti-corruption magistrate Elizabeth Juma said Wario took advantage of his office and added an additional three people to the list of Team Kenya and had them paid allowances yet he had no mandate to do so.
