I did no wrong, says former AK treasurer Kinyua

Former Athletics Kenya (AK) treasurer Joseph Kinyua has expressed confidence that he will be absolved of allegations of mismanaging funds from sponsors Nike.

The IAAF Athletics Integrity Unit in conjunction with Kenyan investigators is probing the case in which Kinyua and former AK vice president David Okeyo have been accused of siphoning US$500,000 paid to the federation by kit sponsors Nike.

The two, along with the then AK president, the late Isaiah Kiplagat were also accused of subverting anti-doping processes in 2015 when they were suspended for 180 days to pave way for investigations.

In December last year, the IAAF cleared Kinyua of the doping allegations after the governing body found no evidence to uphold a case against the Athletics Kenya (AK) Eastern Branch chairman.

“Two years after I left the office of the AK, someone alleged that I was soliciting for funds from athletes to help them cover-up doping tests. Investigations were done for a year but no single athlete mentioned my name in that connection and I was cleared,” Kinyua told Citizen Digital in Meru.

With those charges dropped, Kinyua was left to answer charges of financial impropriety which he says is the reason he cannot chair AK meetings for the Eastern branch despite being the region’s elected leader.

Kithinji Maragara is serving as the acting chair.

Kinyua hinted his pending case will be finalized early next year and exuded confidence he will be acquitted.

“I have information from the IAAF that in February or March we shall table our facts and finish that matter so that I can be a clean man all the way. I will also be happy to re unite with the AK family,” the former treasurer said.

During the scandal, Kinyua was the Kenyan team leader at the Beijing World Championships in 2015.