Kenya arrests three officials for Rio mess

NAIROBI, August 28

Kenya has arrested three officials of its National Olympics Committee on charges of mismanaging the country’s contingent at the Rio Olympics. National Olympics Committee Kenya (NOCK) secretary general Francis K. Paul, chef de mission Stephen Soi and his deputy James Chacha were detained on Friday.

“Yes, we have detained them as investigations continue into the Rio 2016 mess,” a source confirmed on Saturday. Paul was arrested in Nairobi on Friday evening, and Soi and Chacha were apprehended as soon as they returned from Brazil. The arrests came after the government disbanded NOCK on Thursday following pressure from the public and a directive from President Uhuru Kenyatta for the scandal to be investigated.

The officials are accused of mismanagement of the contingent that delivered the country’s best performance ever at the Olympics, winning six gold, six silver and a bronze medal. The officials have also been accused of taking a large number of joy riders to Rio at taxpayers' expense and selling off the official kits of the competitors.

Marathoner Wesley Kipchumba Korir recounted the ordeal they had to face in Brazil. “These guys (NOCK officials) are so full of themselves, this time we felt enough was enough. There was so much emotional distress within the camp built up right from the day we left the country and every day we spent in Rio," the 33-year-old said.

“I was dressed in an oversized kit and it was so shameful that I had to take it upon myself to confront Nike officials on the issue.” — IANS