By The Weekly Vision Reporter
A National Assembly committee has resolved to summon Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and his Defence counterpart Soipan Tuya over suspected misappropriation of billions of shillings in stadium projects and sporting events.
During a session held on Tuesday, 4th November, the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture, chaired by Vice-Chairperson Caleb Amisi, grilled Sports Kenya CEO Gabriel Komora, exposing unexplained cost escalations, missing financial records, and unrefunded public funds, all pointing, lawmakers said, to possible theft of taxpayer money. “We are witnessing deliberate financial mismanagement. Taxpayers’ money cannot just disappear without accountability,” Mr Amisi said.
The inquiry revealed staggering cost increases. At Kinoru Stadium, the initial cost of KSh 109 million ballooned to KSh 355 million, leaving KSh 246 million unaccounted for. Regional stadium projects displayed similar irregularities. Seven county stadiums were budgeted at KSh 2.854 billion, but later appeared as eight projects costing KSh 2.9 billion, despite an ongoing Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) investigation. MPs questioned how an additional stadium was introduced and why expenditure continued to rise.
“The pattern of missing documentation, escalating costs, and unrefunded advances points to systemic failures,” observed Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino. Sports Kenya was also found to have paid KSh 30 million to consultants for developing Public-Private Partnership stadium models that were later abandoned by the government. Lawmakers criticised the wasteful expenditure on plans that never materialised.
Mr Komora told the Committee that original records had been surrendered to the EACC and were yet to be returned, forcing reliance on certified copies. However, members rejected this explanation, insisting that the watchdog must return the documents for proper accountability.
The probe also uncovered irregular payments linked to the World U18 Athletics Championships. Sports Kenya spent KSh 382 million, but the Ministry of Sports refunded only KSh 274.8 million, leaving KSh 47.39 million unaccounted for. An additional KSh 73 million in interest certificates remains unpaid.
Furthermore, Sports Kenya’s remittance of KSh 48 million to Athletics Kenya officials lacked documentation. Attempts to shift blame to the Local Organising Committee were firmly dismissed. “If Sports Kenya paid out the money, it must account for it under the Public Finance Management Act,” Mr Amisi asserted.
“There was significant corruption. The system was weak and open to abuse,” warned Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat. The Committee also intends to summon EACC officials and former Sports Kenya leaders, with findings potentially leading to legal action. Sports Kenya has pledged full cooperation as the Committee moves to conclude hearings in the coming months.
