Sports federations come to the defence of under-fire CS Amina

FILE: Kenya Rugby Union chairman Oduor Gangla addressing the media 10/04/2021 [ Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

Stakeholders led by Kenya Rugby Union boss Oduor Gangla on Wednesday said they have full confidence in the work done by the Ministry of Sports.

This comes after a section of Senators urged CS Amina Mohamed not take action against Football Kenya Federation (FKF) that would attract a ban by world football governing body, Fifa.

Speaking to the media, Gangla said they have received significant financial support from the Ministry of Sports for tournaments and national team assignments, which have helped in the development of the game.

“Since Covid-19 affected sports, the Ministry of Sports have helped our athletes both financially and medically by providing support and vaccination during crucial time.”

“Recently, we hosted a successful Safari Sevens, an international rugby tournament that attracted a host of big nations which abundantly helps in the growth of the sport in Kenya,” said Gangla.

Kenya Basketball Federation President Paul Otula appreciated the Ministry for supporting their national teams' activities. 

Just like Otula, Kenya Cycling Federation, Kenya Volleyball Federation, Kenya Tong Moo-Do Federation and Kenya Weightlifting officials praised the Ministry for helping them develop sports.

Meanwhile, former FKF official Twaha Mbarak has accused the Senate of trying to blackmail Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed in her efforts to streamline the game.

The former football boss, via a statement released on Wednesday, urged the Senators to wait for the findings of an audit report on FKF by the Ministry of Sports.

“It is most unfortunate that the Senators who rose to contribute to the request of a statement by Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. (Makueni County) took the floor to make remarks that demonstrated a clear lack of understanding of the factual background that informed the decision of the CS, the context within which the government was acting and a general lack of appreciation of the reality that our football has found itself under the present leadership which is illegally in office," said Twaha.

Sports CS Amina Mohammed when she appeared before the Committee on Sports, Culture and Tourism in Parliament, Nairobi to respond to questions raised my members, in the ministry on Wednesday, October 27 2021 [David Njaaga,Standard]

“Further tragedy is premised on the fact that the Senators seemed to read from a script being authored by the same individuals who have let the country down and instead of being accountable for their time in office they have resorted to using sanctions by FIFA as a scarecrow to blackmail thd government from taking lawful decisions to bring those culpable for the plunder and mismanagement of public resources."

He continued: “The distinguished Senators must never forget that they are representatives of the Kenyans whose hard-earned taxes have been given to FKF and therefore the fearmongering narrative they unashamedly took to the floor of the August House is evidence of how detached they are from the very people they purported to speak for.

"Majority of the Kenyan people on social media are backing the government's move (to audit FKF) and the senators must be made aware. Let the audit continue and the law to take its full course to the greatest extent possible including the appointment of a caretaker committee."

Senators including Mutua Kilonzo Jr (Makueni), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi) and Samson Cherargei (Nandi) on Tuesday rallied behind FKF and its embattled president Nick Mwendwa, while referring to the audit exercise as 'malice'.