CLEAN UP HOUSE FIRST: Debate rages over CEO’s appointment

First lady Margret Kenyatta receives IAAF flag First Lady Margaret Kenyatta receives the International Association Athletics (IAAF) flag from the Committe organizing the hosting of the 10th Edition of the IAAF World Youth Athletics Championship 2017 led by the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and the Arts, Dr. Hassan Wario at State House, Nairobi.

The Government yesterday sought to clear the air over the controversy surrounding the appointment of former Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Chairman, Mwangi Muthee, as Chief Executive Officer for next year’s World Youth Championships.

Muthee’s appointment slightly over a week ago kicked a storm within athletics fraternity with demands that a CEO for the global event should come from within athletics ranks.

His appointment followed the suspension of former AK CEO, Isaac Mwangi, by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Ethics Committee over doping-related cases. “Riadha House (AK headquarters) is currently sagging under the weight of major scandals that the Government opted for Muthee to assure the general public that the event is in safe hands and that the Government is keen to stage the event successfully,” said a highly-placed source, who could not be identified because he is not authorised to speak for the Ministry.

“(Sports Cabinet Secretary) Dr Wario and his team did due diligence before settling on the CEO. In any case, the Championships is being funded heavily by the Government in terms improving infrastructure, security, facilitating immigration matters, protocol, among others.

It is their games really,” said the official. Dr wario has since said Muthee’s appointment will not be rescinded.

The official who spoke to FeverPitch said “AK has so much skeletons in its closet that they should not throw any stones at anybody. AK is virtually sinking under the weight of doping scandals and financial issues involving Nike funding that are a subject of investigations by IAAF Ethics Committee,” he said.

AK Chairman, who chaired a meeting of branch officials at which they rejected Muthee’s appointment, did not answer our calls when we sought his comment.

The athletics federation is reeling in controversy over the 40 doping cases involving Kenyan athletes in the past four years. Its former President, Isaiah Kiplagat, his former Deputy David Okeyo, and a former Treasurer, who was team leader to last year’s World Championships in Beijing, Joseph Kinyua, were all suspended by IAAF for six months for interfering with doping matters and diverting Nike funding. They all denied any wrong doing.

Two parallel investigations have been going on regarding AK -- one on the doping saga being led by Prof Moni Wekesa and the other on corruption-related case led by leading barrister who is also chairman of Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board chairman, Sharad Rao. Rao said he will complete his investigations by mid May.

It’s not known how long Prof Wekesa’s investigations will take.