Kayaking team claim SA trip is in danger

The national Canoe Kayaking team trip to South Africa for the Rio 2016 Olympics is in danger of aborting with the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts yet to guarantee the finances needed to send the squad to Johannesburg.

Canoe Kayaking Association Secretary General, Njue Okevias, sounded the alarm on Tuesday confirming the squad of eight that has been camping in Ruiru’s Muguda Dam for the last two months have not received any assurances from the Government.

The team is scheduled to depart next Tuesday and includes Diana Nandecho who joined them from Italy.

“We are really at a loss because we have paid for the visas and insurance so far and the Ministry was to facilitate air tickets and accommodation.

“We kindly request those in the Ministry to waste no more time since some of the players have travelled all the way from Italy.  We expect them to fully fund the team,” Okevias told Citizen Digital.

The claims were refuted by the acting Sports Commissioner, Maina Kamau who said that his office had not yet received any complaint from the federation.

“I can’t justify such claims; in case they have a problem then they know the best procedure to follow. I am also getting such information from the press. Let the team officials come to us,” Kamau said when contacted on the allegations.

The Canoeing governing body was recognised as the first runners-up in the Federation of the Year category at the 2015 SOYA Awards.

-Report by Raymond Ochieng