Wario and Kip Keino face charges over Rio scandal

FILE -Permanent secretary Ministry of Sports Culture and the Arts Dr Hassan Wario at the Opening of International film convention at safaripark hotel on15TH NOVEMBER 2017 PHOTO BY DAVID GICHURU STANDARD

The ghosts of the Rio Olympic games have resurfaced again after Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji directed the prosecution of seven people for alleged misappropriation of Sh55million.

Among those set to be charged are former Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario, his former Principal Secretary Richard Ekai, former National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) boss Kipchoge Keino and Stephen Soi the Rio Games Chef De Mission.

Others are current Nock Secretary General Francis Kinyili Paul, Haroun Komen, former Director of Administration at the Sports Ministry and Patrick Kimathi, a former Finance Officer at the Ministry.

Haji said the seven should be charged with six counts of abuse of office and four counts of willful failure to comply with laws relating to the management of public funds contrary to the Anti-Corruption and Economics Crimes Act.

Charges against the seven include embezzlement of Sh22.4million, purchase of air tickets which were not utilised amounting to Sh16.8 million, overpayment of allowances amounting to Sh15.9 and incurring expenditure on unauthorised persons amounting to Sh6.5 million.

The DPP has given the seven up to tomorrow to present themselves at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.

“If they do not comply, then the process of obtaining warrants of arrest shall commence,” said Haji in his statement.

One of the seven suspects Soi was arrested on Friday evening after he presented himself for questioning and is currently being held at Muthaiga Police Station.

Sources said Paul also presented himself at DCI yesterday. It is not clear whether Wario and Ekai will honour tomorrow’s summons. Wario is Kenya’s ambassador in Austria while Ekai is Kenyan envoy in Moscow.

The DPP also said several individuals were unlawfully facilitated with air tickets and allowances to travel to Rio, but he has directed the Asset Recovery Agency to begin recovery.

The DPP also directed a probe into contracts between Nike and Nock and lso donations to Nock.