DP Ruto says debts owed to Shujaa unacceptable

Deputy President William Ruto has directed the Ministry of Sports to pay Kenya Sevens Rugby team players all their allowances.

The Ministry of Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa said it had given the team KSh21 Million and is yet to clear the outstanding balance.

The Deputy President said the team deserved better treatment as they have been good ambassadors who have promoted Kenya in the global arena.

Mr Ruto said: “It is not acceptable that our sports ambassadors are owed money after profiling our country out there.”

Mr Ruto said it was time sportsmen and women were treated well because they put a lot of personal effort to represent the country.

He said the players should be paid their dues before leaving the country so that they can also be inspired to do their best.

He added: “Always know that you are carrying the whole country whenever you get to that pitch. You have what it takes.”

Speaking at his Karen office when the team paid him a courtesy call, Mr Ruto said the Government has introduced a Bill in Parliament that will ensure more funds are made available for sports from betting companies to put to an end financial challenges in the sports sector.

He said: “We have a Bill before Parliament that seeks to channel more resources to sports from betting activities in the country. From this we shall raise enough money to sponsor our sporting activities.”

The Deputy President added that the Government will improve training facilities for the rugby players to help them prepare well for international competitions.

The Kenya Sevens Rugby team manager Eric Ogweno called on the Government to adequately facilitate the team to enable them focus on the game.

Mr Ogweno said: “We are ready to compete. All we want is facilitation to make our players comfortable. We don’t want a scenario where instead of playing we are thinking about where to get funds to pay for our daily needs.”

The team is heading to San Francisco in the United States of America for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018.

Kenya plays Tonga in their first game in the knock-out qualifier on Friday at 11.01pm Kenyan time with the winner set to take on Scotland in the next round of 16.

Kenya Sevens Squad to San Francisco 2018

1.Oscar Ayodi (Captain) 2.Collins Injera 3.Andrew Amonde 4.Willy Ambaka 5.Samuel Oliech 6.Nelson Oyoo 7.Dennis Ombachi 8.Jeff Oluoch 9.Brian Tanga 10.Eden Agero 11.Herman Humwa 12.Samuel Ngethe

Management

1.Innocent Simiyu – Coach 2. Geoffrey Kimani -S & C 3. Lameck Bogonko – Physio 4.Eric Ogweno -Team manager.

Kenya Sevens World Cup

Argentina 2001- Bowl semis, lost 35-12 to Chile

Hong Kong 2005- Bowl semis, lost 28-15 to Italy

Dubai 2009-  Cup semis, lost 12-0 to Argentina

Moscow 2013- Third place, lost 29-5 to Fiji

-Edwin Mbare contributed to this report