Rugby: MPs offer to mediate Kenya Sevens, Brand Kenya dispute
Rugby
By
Rodgers Eshitemi
| Jun 24, 2018
MPs to mediate Shujaa, Brand Kenya dispute
The Kenya Sevens and Brand Kenya’s Paris fiasco has taken a new twist with the National Assembly Committee on Sports, Culture and Tourism offering to mediate on the sponsorship impasse and the unrest in the national rugby team’s camp.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala canceled Brand Kenya’s Sh2Om sponsorship deal with Kenya Rugby Union citing breach of contract after the Shujaa playing unit had blanked out sponsor’s branding over pay dispute during the Paris Sevens a fortnight ago.
The incident led to the sacking of head coach Innocent Simiyu after he took responsibility of what happened in France. But the decision didn’t go well with the players as they boycotted training on Thursday, 29 days to the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco, USA (July 20-22).
The recent happenings have left House team committee chairman and Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka a disappointed man, vowing to engage all relevant stakeholders and resolve the issue.
READ MORE
Two men, same name, same land: 30yr court battle heads for supreme court
From aid to enterprise: Refugee businesses expand East Africa's economy
Ruto rewards Sawe Sh8m, car for breaking London marathon record
Over 300 people displaced as heavy rains batter Mombasa
New 2030 plan targets billions in financing for farmers and MSMEs
Maina named Vision 2030 acting director
New initiative to increase accessibility to spectacles launched
Kenya's path to first-world status requires civic reform
To get it right, let us start right: How Kenya can best reclaim Vision 2030
“The Departmental Committee on Sports, Culture & Tourism which I chair, is equally deeply concerned at the turn of events just after the team has achieved the best score ever in any Seven Series events,” read part of the statement signed by Munyaka.
“Achieving 104 points after the Paris Series was no mean feat. As the first National Assembly Committee ever since independence to directly oversight Sports, I want to assure Kenyans, that we are committed to getting to the bottom of this matter, in a way that does not affect the team.” [Rodgers Eshitemi]