Kenya Rugby Union left borrowing as MPs earn Ksh.5 million in Egypt

Kenya Rugby Union left borrowing as MPs earn Ksh.5 million in Egypt

As Members of Parliament continue pocketing a Ksh 100,000 daily allowance in Egypt, national rugby teams back in Nairobi are fundraising for upcoming assignments as the government is yet to come to their rescue.

The Kenya U20 team, popularly known as Chipu, are set to head to Brazil on July 4 for the World Junior Trophy championship, a World Rugby tournament.

Kenya Rugby Union held a fundraising dinner this past weekend at Peponi School where they were targeting Ksh 8 million but raised only Ksh 1.2 million according to CEO Sylvia Kamau.

Sports CS Amina Mohamed recently visited KRU where she promised everything will be fine but it seems it’s the opposite.

Following the fundraising dinner, the head-coach Paul Odera has proclaimed that the Chipu team did not meet their target to fund the team heading to Brazil hence this might greatly affect the players leaving on international duty.

Odera confirmed that the KRU has been in talks with the government who will be having a meeting today to decide on Chipu’s funding, on the other hand, the head coach confirms some sponsors are still coming on board and they have already pledged to contribute to their ability.

“We hope the government will come in to help us, we believe that if they will be able to give us one to two million together with the sponsors who have pledged to come in, we will be good to go,” said Odera.

This has raised concerns with five Kenyan MP’s in Egypt for the African Cup of National each receiving an allowance of Ksh 100,000  this being one million each for their 10 days stay, as the rugby team is facing a huge crisis in funding as they head to Brazil for the Junior World Cup.

20 legislators have traveled to Cairo, Egypt to enjoy the 2019 Afcon games, with five of them being facilitated by the Parliamentary Service Commission.

Their 10 days stay in Egypt will cost the taxpayer Ksh 5 million while the rugby team continues to suffer in Nairobi.

On March 10, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that from 2019 the government will fund all national teams fully.

The senior team, Kenya Simbas, are set to head to Uganda for the Elgon Cup return leg on July 13 by Bus as the Union cannot afford flight tickets.

The 12-hour journey will be a strain to the rugby players who are expected to overturn a 13-16 first leg defeat in Kampala. After the game, they are likely to take another 12-hour bus to Nairobi on Sunday meaning the majority of the players may not report to work the following Monday or School due to the traveling.

Odera, who coaches both U20 and Kenya Simbas, is still calling on the government to do their part as he says this is a national team and the government can do a lot to support the players as they represent the country.

“My prayer has always been that if there is anybody not happy with the KRU, they should leave the players out and support them because these are young boys who are coming from the outcasts and they don’t have money there is nothing we can do,” he Said.

Chipu will be leaving for Brazil upon confirmation of the dates and will be facing Uruguay on Tuesday 9th at 11:00 pm EAT, on Sunday 14th July Chipu will meet the hosts, Brazil at 1:00 am EAT before meeting Japan on Wednesday 17th at 11:00 PM to wrap up their pool matches.

All matches are set to take place at the Martins Pereira Stadium.

 

Tags:

Kenya Rugby Union Chipu Paul Odera Kenya Simbas

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories