Daily Nation
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7 2016
From left: Nock officials when they appeared before the National Assembly Labour and Social Welfare Committee on September 6, 2016 over Rio fiasco. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
In Summary
There have been reports that there were 1,900 kits provided by Nike, the official suppliers.
Mr Wario said the official had suggested that the kits be handed over to the athletes directly.
The parliamentary team has started investigations into the Rio fiasco.
By JOHN NGIRACHU
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The National Olympics Committee of Kenya (Nock) has denied claims that kits meant for the Kenyan team in the Rio Games were stolen.
At a meeting with the National Assembly’s Labour and Social Welfare Committee on Tuesday, the team, led by athletics legend Kipchoge Keino, said the kits were supplied for 18 disciplines that participated in the global games.
Mr Keino explained that Kenya participated in five of the 18 disciplines, saying the rest of the kits were not used.
Kenya was represented in athletics, boxing, rugby, judo, and javelin.
“The [uniforms were] in the store until the time the police came in,” he added.
Mr Keino handed over a set of incomplete documents showing how the kits were distributed to the athletes.
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Stephen arap Soi, the head of Kenya’s Rio team, said some athletes had individual contracts for kits and they therefore did not collect theirs from the officials.
The committee requested details on all the accommodation arrangements and how the kits were distributed.
NIKE
There have been reports that Nike, the official supplier, provided 1,900 kits.
The discovery of kits at Nock’s offices in a raid by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations appeared to confirm the allegations.
Kits for Kenya’s Olympics team are supplied by Nike on a contract, which the MPs also asked to see.
When Mr Keino met the committee earlier Tuesday, Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario said John Capriotti, a senior Nike official, had expressed concerns about the way the supply of kits was handled.
Mr Wario said the official had suggested that the kits be handed over to the athletes directly.
The CS said he asked to see the contract but Mr Capriotti said he would have to ask Nike’s lawyers about that, which he interpreted as reluctance.
He said he would write an official letter to Nike over the matter.
The parliamentary team has started investigations into the Rio fiasco.
Former Olympian Elijah Lagat, now the MP for Chesumei, said the supply of kits has always been an issue.
