Youth Affairs, the Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has assured that the Ministry has set aside Ksh70 million, which will be used to reward athletes who won titles but are yet to be honoured.
Mvurya, who appeared before the Senate on Wednesday, 23 July to answer questions from senators, acknowledged that some athletes had indeed been promised funding by the Ministry but had not yet received it.
He was responding to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who had questioned him about taking and posting photos with a dummy cheque for the Kenya Lionesses rugby team. However, the players are yet to receive the money as the cheque remained uncashed.
"Can the CS confirm to this House, because we saw him take a photograph with the Kenya Lionesses and a dummy cheque of Ksh2 million, why that team has not received the money up to today? Can he confirm why that cheque has not been cashed to date?" Sifuna questioned.
In response, the CS assured the Senators that the cheque will be cashed alongside others.
"I acknowledge that we took pictures. I want to assure the House that we have set aside Ksh70 million, which will be used to reward athletes who won matches but have not yet been honoured. Part of this amount will go to the national rugby team," Mvurya assured.
According to the CS, beginning next week, the athletes will be summoned to receive their cash rewards.
"In the next few weeks, we will be calling the athletes and officially presenting them with their awards," the CS continued.
Senator Sifuna, however, looked discontented with the CS as he was seen constantly nodding his head in rejection of Mvurya's sentiments.
The CS had revealed on July 9 that the government had set aside Ksh70 million, but according to Sifuna, it has been almost a month since the pledge, and the athletes have yet to receive the funds.
Mvurya, however, insisted that the plan is still on course, and as stipulated by the Ministry, all athletes will receive their share as honouring them is one of the Ministry's agendas.
"There should be no cause for alarm. I can see Senator Sifuna nodding. The Ksh70 million is the total package. We will be giving out soon; you will see the ceremony, and you will confirm. Maybe Sifuna may want it done differently, but this is the arrangement we have made as a Ministry," the CS maintained.
