Ex-sports boss Hassan Wario charged with abuse of office, released on Sh1 million bail

Former Sports Cabinet Secretary now Kenya’s Ambassador to Austria Hassan Wario [Courtesy]

Former Sports Cabinet Secretary, now Kenya’s Ambassador to Austria Hassan Wario, has been charged with six counts of abuse of office.

He has been released on Sh1 million bail, with a personal bond of a similar amount over the Rio 2016 Olympics scam.

The former CS appeared before Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti of the Anti-Corruption Court at Milimani on Friday.

Wario and athletics legend Kipchoge Keino were on Thursday questioned after they turned themselves to police following recommendations by the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji.

Also questioned were former director of administration Haron Komen and former finance officer in the Sports ministry Patrick Nkabu.

In a twist of events, Keino turned into a state witness in the Sh55 million scandal after police discovered he did not sign any documents. He was questioned for more than six hours.

The four reported to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters accompanied by lawyer Cecil Miller.

Wario has been charged with six counts of abuse of office [Courtesy]

Wario is accused of improperly facilitating six individuals’ travel expenses to Rio Olympics, causing loss of public funds worth Sh5,846,346.

The individuals include Adan Enow and James Singh, who pocketed Sh1,506,391.

Others are Richard Bura and Monica Sairo, who allegedly got Sh918,391.

Eunice Kerich and Samuel Njuguna each took home Sh498,391.

Ex-NOCK boss Kipchoge Keino [Courtesy]

Following the prosecution’s request to allow more time for further assessment, ex-NOCK boss Keino’s plea has been deferred for seven days.