Treasury holds onto Sh8b as Sports suffer: Harambee Stars coach yet to be paid for two months

Renovation of Kasarani stadium pitch in progress in Nairobi on February 16, 2018. Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com

Sports projects stall as Treasury holds on to Sh8b 

Parliament awaits President’s approval for the use of money collected from betting companies.

Treasury is holding onto Sh8billion meant for sports, leaving associations struggling to fund their activities and unending cases of stalled projects.

The amount is what has been collected so far from gaming companies following the increase of betting tax to 35% from January this year.

The money is supposed to fund sports, culture and the arts.

According to Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa, Treasury is waiting for Parliament’s approval before releasing the funds.

“At the Cabinet level, the President has already approved its use for funding of sports but we cannot access it until Parliament gives a go-ahead. They have assured us this will be done soon,” said Echesa, without giving a timeline.

Following the delay, several sports associations and development projects continue to suffer.

Harambee Stars Coach Sebastian Migne and team Captain Musa Mohamed have a word before match kickoff against Ghana during African Cup of Nations Qualifier match at Moi Sports Centre Kasarani. Sept 8, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Contractors who won tenders to renovate various stadia are owed more than Sh500million.

Works at Nyayo Stadium have stalled and the contractor has left the site saying he is owed Sh400m.

The stadium was expected to be ready three months ago but with the delay, it is not clear when woks will be completed.

Apart from Nyayo, Moi Kinoru Stadium in Meru is also not ready for use.

Echesa assured that all pending works will be completed by March next year.

“We are expecting funding and all facilities will be ready for use in six months,” he said. 

Apart from stalled projects, national football team’s head coach Sebastian Migne has not been paid his salary for the last two months and is said to be unhappy with the situation.

“Migne has been paid only twice since he was signed as Harambee Stars coach and it is one of the reasons he sighted as lack of professionalism in how the team is being managed,” a source close to the coach said.

Apart from Migne, the Ministry of Sports has also been struggling to fund the national team Harambee Stars in their Africa Cup of Nations campaign. 

With such uncertainty, the team is not sure how they will honour next month’s Afcon qualifier matches against Ethiopia.

Kenya Harambee Stars Coach Sebastian Migne against Ghana battle during their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani Stadium on Saturday 08/9/18[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Football Kenya Federation presented a budget of Sh26m to the ministry. Echesa has, however, defended the ministry, insisting they have done a lot for the national team.

“There was a delay in releasing the allowances but that has been rectrified. We have done a lot for Harambee Stars. We are going to set aside Sh120m for the team in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals,” said Echesa.

The financial crunch could also affect Kenya’s participation in next month’s Youth Olympics.