State probes FKF boss Nick Mwendwa over Sh245million AFCON funds
State Department for Sports has opened an inquiry into how Football Kenya Federation (FKF) spent Sh244.6 million on Harambee Stars 2019 failed African Cup of Nations Championships (AFCON) qualifier games.
Sports 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.
“We wrote to the DCI on October 15, 2019 and there has been back and forth because the FKF rushed to court to stop the probe. However, the court two weeks ago allowed the DCI to move into FKF saying the federation has a case to answer,” he said.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Okudo said the Sh11 million advanced to Mwendwa was set apart from the Sh244.6 million that the State transferred to FKF for AFCON preparations.
The Sh244,587,705 was used by Harambee Stars during its camp in France and Spain in the run-up to the continental assignment in Egypt.
Additionally, the DCI will be probing Sh57 million in allowances and bonuses issued to Harambee Stars players and technical bench who travelled for AFCON camps in various countries that were not supported by approved rates.
“The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Sports and Heritage has also subsequently written to the Registrar of Sports to undertake a thorough financial audit of all the accounts of the Football Kenya Federation,” he said.
The department has also put in place a team of two auditors from the Auditor General’s office, two from the private sector, and officials from the ministry to probe the accounts of FKF.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu flagged the payments in the State Departments’ books of accounts for the year to June 2019.
The auditor said the payments were made to Mwendwa between April 25, 2019, to November 29, 2019.
