NAIROBI: Top officials of Kenya's athletics authority are under investigations over claims they misappropriated more than Sh200 million donated by an American Sports apparel manufacturer.
Athletics Kenya (AK) first Vice President David Okeyo spent the better part of Thursday at the CID headquarters in Nairobi recording statements to clarify the claims.
Officials at the CID's Economics Crime Unit said they had also summoned AK President Isaiah Kiplagat for grilling. Kiplagat is to appear before the Unit on Monday.
"We are informed he is out of the country but we had summoned him to clarify a number of issues regarding the claims of misappropriation," said CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro.
Okeyo was being grilled over a complaint lodged there that more than Sh200 million donated by American company, Nike and Pamodzi Sports Marketing (agents of Chinese Sports Apparel Li Ning), could not be accounted for.
It is not clear if the complaint was lodged by Nike or other concerned parties.
Okeyo spent the better part of the morning hours answering questions before he left later in the day.
Officials at CID said they will summon more AK staff for questioning at a later stage before they forward their file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for action.
DEAL BROKERED
In 2010, AK wanted to terminate a contract with Nike and take on board Chinese apparel manufacturers Li Ning based in Beijing. The deal was brokered by Pamodzi Sports Marketing, a company owned by Papa Massata Diack, the son to IAAF President Lammie Diack.
Massata later quit as the marketing consultant for the IAAF, in which he was in charge of emerging markets - India, China, the Gulf and Africa. Pamdozi wired Sh18 million to AK Kenya Commercial Bank's Moi Avenue branch in September 3, 2010.
The whole amount was withdrawn on September 9 by Okeyo.
AK had first negotiated with Nike to kit Kenya's track and field teams in 2005 and renegotiated the same deal in 2010. The contract runs until 2020.