There was a heated debate in the Senate on Tuesday, October 10, following Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed’s order to audit Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
The lawmakers raised questions on what motive the CS had to warrant the audit. In addition, they tasked the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare to explain how the CS has been managing sports funds under her docket.
Specifically, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to either sack the CS or assign her lighter duties. He alleged that Amina had presided over mega graft at the Ministry of Sports.
"Can you believe in Ksh40 billion sports fund, they have allocated Ksh31 billion for Woodball, Kung Fu Ksh81 billion, yet things like rugby, athletes and football, have not been well funded," Cherargei stated.
The Senator added that several stadia had gobbled millions of money but were yet to meet Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) standards.
"The same stadia have been banned. They cannot even host friendly matches,” Cherargei paused.
Cherargei's sentiments were echoed by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, who requested for a comprehensive inquiry by the Committee on how the Ministry of Sports manages its affairs.
“This question is very important, and I want to urge my distinguished nephew to broaden the inquiry not only on football but sports in this country. FKF is now limping, but instead of getting support, we are now embarking on punitive and malicious investigation against it,” Wetangula weighed in.
The heads of sports federations have since come out to defend CS Amina saying that the attacks are politically instigated.
Rugby Union Athletics Kenya and the Kenya Volleyball Federation administrators applauded the CS for having put in place systems to ensure proper and equitable disbursement of funds.
"We have received good funding from the government and as rugby, our books are always open to accountability," Oduor Gangla, the Chairman Kenya Rugby Union stated.
"The government supported us and even gave players stipends to survive when there was Covid-19," Chairman Kenya Basketball Federation, Paul Otula, stated.
