- Title: Senior Kenyan official arrested in Rio scandal
- Date: 22nd November 2016
- Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (NOVEMBER 22, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN HIGH COURT ROOM NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF KENYA (NOCK) VICE CHAIRMAN, BEN EKUMBO WALKING ONTO DOCK EKUMBO STANDING VARIOUS OF MAGISTRATE, THERESA NYANGENA LISTENING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN COURT MAN IN TEAM KENYA TRACK SUIT (SOUNDBITE) (English) MAGISTRATE, THERESA NYANGENA, SAYING: "Having considered all these factors, I have granted the prosecution three days upon which they will come back to court to state the position of investigations after which I will consider the accused for bail." PEOPLE STANDING IN COURT VARIOUS OF EKUMBO BEING WALKED DOWN TO HOLDING CELL VARIOUS OF NAIROBI STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNNAMED NAIROBI RESIDENT, SAYING: "Actually I was so perplexed after having gotten that we have the sports gear that was gotten from one of the sports officials. Actually it was very embarrassing and I am so sure that thing went viral. It has depicted where Kenya is. We have learnt that each and every aspect of life in Kenya is corruption." (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNNAMED NAIROBI RESIDENT, SAYING: "This person who was found with this sports gear actually should be jailed, there is nothing like investigations. Always we have been hearing about investigations but what kind of investigations is going to be done. That's a bailout. In fact that's a whole container that was found in sport, and what was this person doing with this things? That is government money, that is public money, that is our money."
- Embargoed: 7th December 2016 13:29
- Keywords: Kenya Nairobi Olympics NOCK
- Location: NAIROBI AND ITEN, KENYA
- City: NAIROBI AND ITEN, KENYA
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00159J1MPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Kenya's National Olympic Committee Vice Chairman Ben Ekumbo appeared at Nairobi Magistrate court on Tuesday (November 22) and was ordered to remain in detention as police investigate allegations of theft of funds and sports kits meant for the national team at Rio Olympics.
Ekumbo was arrested on Monday (November 21) after boxes containing Nike equipment and team Kenya uniforms were found at his house.
Senior Nairobi Court Magistrate, Theresa Nyangena issued a temporary detention order.
"Having considered all these factors, I have granted the prosecution three days upon which they will come back to court to state the position of investigations after which I will consider the accused for bail," Nyangena said.
Among the items seized from Ekumbo's house were official sweaters, tracks, jackets, swimming goggles, swimming jackets and other kits dating from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi to Rio 2016.
Ekumbo is the fifth official arrested in the investigation of alleged theft and abuse of office during the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Large sums of money meant to cover the expenses of Kenya's team at the Rio Olympics were misappropriated by officials, according to an investigation ordered by the country's sports ministry.
The report, seen by Reuters, said the money had been earmarked to buy air tickets for team members, but was instead taken by unidentified ministry officials.
The report said officials of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) also diverted money and kit from U.S. sports equipment manufacturer Nike worth over $800,000.
Officials at the Ministry of Sports did not respond to telephone calls or text messages when contacted by Reuters. Nike did not return calls seeking comment.
Athletes told the investigation committee that bonuses from Nike for medals won at Olympic and Commonwealth Games did not reach them.
Athletes said Nike gives NOCK $15,000 for each gold medallist, $7,500 for each silver medallist and $5,000 for each bronze medallist, but medallists told the investigation committee they had never been given bonuses from NOCK.
Reuters was unable to confirm the details of Nike's agreement with NOCK.
The probe, commissioned by Hassan Wario, Minister for Sports, Culture and the Arts, has been presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta, according to a source familiar with the matter. It has not been officially made public. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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