DCI summons two cricket officials over Sh26.7m scam

Cricket Kenya chairman Manoj Patel. [File, Standard] Just days after a no-confidence vote by the Cricket Kenya Board, two rebel officials are now under criminal investigation over a Sh26.7 million financial scandal. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has summoned Cricket Kenya Chairman Manoj Patel and Acting Treasurer Kennedy Obuya over alleged theft of millions from the federation's coffers. In separate summons, the DCI directed the embattled officials to present themselves for questioning on Friday next week. "I, Mr. Hillary Mutai, SSP, a police officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Headquarters as the In-Charge Serious Crime Unit, am investigating allegations of stealing... and connected offences relating to the withdrawal and usage of Ksh.26,758,144 in the financial year 2024 being property of Cricket Kenya," the DCI said in its letters. "I have reason to believe that you, Manoj Patel, are connected to the offence or you have information which can assist me in investigations." The summons come just two days after a majority of the Cricket Kenya board unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in Obuya. The board had earlier moved against Chairman Patel in June, stripping him of all executive authority. In an ironic twist, Obuya had supported Patel's ouster but has since joined forces with the embattled chairman in an ongoing standoff with the majority faction. "At a meeting of the Board of Directors of Cricket Kenya held on 24 September 2025... it was unanimously resolved that a vote of no confidence be passed in Kennedy Obuya," read part of the Wednesday resolutions. But the DCI probe appears to stem from an earlier finance committee report that unearthed damning irregularities. The report, dated 19 May 2025, revealed a bank account holding millions of shillings was operated outside official oversight. Cheque books and documents were kept personally by Patel-a clear violation of Cricket Kenya's financial policies. According to the report, Cricket Kenya opened an account with Prime Bank on 27 April 2022, which was never declared in the organisation's financial statements. The committee found that "accountable documents like the cheque book and others for the account were kept by the Board Chairman, Manoj Patel. This contravenes Finance Policy 9.9, which requires all cheque books to be kept securely in a safe by the Chief Finance Officer," the report reads in part. The secretariat failed to provide board minutes authorising the account's opening, and no payment vouchers, receipts, or invoices were made available to justify transactions totaling Sh11.9 million between June and December 2024. The committee recommended that "the chairman should hand over the cheque books and any other documents related to the Prime Bank account to the secretariat." They also warned that the board should not take over secretariat duties, stressing the need for segregation of roles to ensure proper governance and internal controls. On Wednesday, the board moved to block Patel and Obuya from accessing Cricket Kenya bank accounts. "It was further resolved that Manoj Patel and Kennedy Obuya are hereby barred from transacting or issuing instructions on behalf of Cricket Kenya in respect to all bank accounts. The Secretary is hereby instructed to communicate the resolutions to the bank and ensure compliance," the board directed. The majority board members have been pushing to assert authority and streamline operations to avert a possible suspension by the Cricket Kenya Council. Just two weeks ago, the board terminated contracts with a Dubai- and India-based sports promotion firm, citing serious governance violations. "On 10 September 2025, the board, by majority resolution, terminated its agreement with AOS citing severe reputational damage and grave breaches of governance, including attempts to improperly influence Board members through financial inducements and external pressure," CEO Bukusi said.

DCI summons two cricket officials over Sh26.7m scam

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