Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen made a stark promise to the Kenyan women's Amputee team as the two parties met for the first time since the Frankfurt Airport drama.
The CS hosted the women's team for a Celebration Luncheon For Ladies at Talanta Plaza in Nairobi on Thursday to commend them for finishing in fourth place at the inaugural Amputee Women's World Cup in Colombia.
At the luncheon, Murkomen hailed the team for their feat while also addressing the viral video that claimed that the team was stranded in Germany while waiting for a connecting flight back to the country.
According to Murkomen, the video was ill-intentioned as neither the amputee team nor the officials were aware they were being filmed to depict them as a stranded lot.
"I was shocked. As soon as I picked up the call and called the official travelling with the team, I was shocked that all the people I was talking to had no idea what had happened," Murkomen explained adding, "They were learning on social media that they were stranded."
The Sports CS further reiterated that the Ministry would not allow any team representing Kenya in international competitions to endure any adversities due to limited financial resources.
He added, "I have said and said again, as a Ministry, we will never allow any team representing Kenya to board a flight at the JKIA without resources allocated to them by the Ministry. If that were to happen, we would fire all officials in the office."
Murkomen insisted layovers at international airports were normal and the amputee team was given VIP treatment as they waited for their connecting flight.
Notably, spirits were high at the celebration luncheon with the amputee team welcoming the CS with song and dance- a stark contrast to what the viral video on Wednesday depicted.
Murkomen also heeded appeals for help from some of the members of the amputee team, who had other professions besides football.
Despite the team finishing in fourth place at the tournament in Colombia, the government only fetes first, second, and third-place finishes in international competitions.
Murkomen, however, promised to personally issue a cash reward to the team for their heroics ahead of their meeting with President William Ruto.
