SOI DENIES NOCK OWES ATHLETES: Reports have emerged that sportsmen and women not yet paid bonuses

National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) Deputy Treasurer Stephen Soi has rubbished claims that the national Olympics body has not paid athletes Sh126 million in performance bonuses.

The money is paid by American sportswear manufacturer Nike to Nock as compensation for the athletes' good performance.

Soi said that the money is meant for athletes' development.

"There is no direct financial gain for athletes from Nike in Olympic games or any other event. The money is paid to Nock for developing the athletes."

He said that Nock and Nike have an agreement and the contract is with the Olympics body and not the Government of Kenya.

"The Nike contract is between Nock and Nike and not with the government. We have an agreement and Nike pays us (Nock) for using their kit."

Soi revealed that Nike pays Nock slightly above Sh70 million annually in addition to the bonuses whose value depends on performance of Kenyan sportsmen and women. He added that the only way an athlete can have direct financial gain from Nike is if they have a contract at an individual level.

"Athletes have their own agreements with Nike which we are not part of. If an athlete has a contract with Nike they are paid directly because the pact is at an individual level."

On the Rio issue, Soi stuck to his guns saying that the allegations of mismanagement are unfounded.

Olympic games, Team Kenya Chief de Mission Stephen Soi speaks during a courtesy call to Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago's office. Though Soi denied claims of deficit of funds to the Rio Olympics, National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) Treasurer Fridah Shiroya revealed that there was a deficit in fund. 13-07-2016. PHOTOS BY: KEVIN TUNOI

"Rio trip was the most successful in Kenya's history at the Olympics and that should be proof enough that we did our job well because there is no way that a team that was mismanaged could perform that well," Soi added.

He was speaking at the construction site of the Sh1.2 billion Olympic Plaza situated at Kenya Road in Upper Hill, Nairobi. The 16-strorey building will be home for the national Olympics body.

The building will have the Nock offices, hall of fame, sports museum, a modern gym, health club and a restaurant. Nock Secretary General F K Paul said the project is part of their long-term sustainability programme.

"We have plans to sell and rent out part of this building to supplement our income," he said.