MPs defend Citizen TV expose on Nock Rio 2016 excesses

The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, David Aoko Were on Wednesday defended Citizen TV and Citizen Digital for obtaining documents related to the Rio 2016 fiasco tabled before it by besieged National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) officials.

During a hearing at Nairobi’s Continental House, Nock vice-chairman, Ben Ekumbo, raised the matter before the committee after the two outlets detailed how over Ksh30m of money budgeted for and paid by the Government for Rio 2016 may have been lost on procuring and clearing kit provided for free by American sponsors, Nike.

“There are some documents we provided for this Committee and we saw them in the media, specifically on Citizen News at 7 and 9pm. We would like the Committee to advise us on that and know if any other document we give out will be published,” Ekumbo told.

Nock Executive Officer and beleaguered Team Kenya Chef-de-Mission (CDM), Stephen arap Soi then accused the media house of misrepresenting facts on the monies allocated for kit and clearing it before he contradicted himself during the latest hearing in parliament’s probe into the excesses that marred the country’s best ever Olympics performance.

“Media should be responsible for what they are reporting to the public,” Soi who has been charged for his handling of the team in Brazil and missing kit muttered.

“Once the documents are tabled they become for the public. Every citizen has a right to the document and what they quote is in this document,” the chairman who is the Member of Parliament for Matuga told the under fire officials who before the gathering, were heard speaking amongst themselves against the unprecedented media scrutiny they have been subjected to.

“We shall seek to find out how Citizen got the documents and raise the matter when the hearing starts,” a displeased Ekumbo was overheard as they waited for proceedings to start.

-Confused defence-

The Nock officials were heard pressed to explain discrepancies in the budget allocated and how the money was spent in Brazil where athletes accused their managers of mistreatment.

According to the budget for Rio 2016 in Citizen’s possession, over Ksh18m was used to buy kit and a further figure in excess of Ksh12m used to clear it in Government taxes whilst a contract signed between Nock and Nike provided for the material to be shipped in for free.

In the agreement running from 2013 to 2020, Nike is obliged to refund Nock any monies spent on clearing items they ship to the country for the use in events under their banner namely Commonwealth Games and Olympics in a deal that has seen the local body receiving in excess of Ksh72m per annum that will top Ksh74m from next year.

Nock officials tried to explain what was catered for in the contract could not fulfil the demands of the entire team that was sent to Rio hence the need to buy extra kit.

“How does Nike selectively provide for our team yet they fully provide for other teams. Yet when you go the shop you will still buy the said items with the same brand?” Were posed.

“Nike provides competition kit for track and field, there are disciplines that they do not provide for like Judo, boxing shoes, swimming goggles then we cover them in order to comply with the branding,” Soi explained to the Committee without batting an eyelid.

“I personally signed the contract with Nike and we called them to come and we discuss the colours and sizes. They did not come and they go and produce their products in China and get different sizes,” Nock boss, Dr. Kipchoge Keino, added in deflecting the blame to the American firm.

“Some athletes refused to sign for their kits and yet they went to complain to Nike. Nike wanted us to give some disciplines more uniforms than the other,” Soi then accused members of the team who complained they had been short-changed by Nock in distribution of the training and competition gear.

“The same issues athletes complained in their previous Olympics game are still the ones we are still discussing till know we need to solve this issue once and for all. Why do we have XXL uniforms for our athletes yet none of them can fit in that?” Committee member and retired athlete, Elijah Lagat quizzed.

“The problem with Nike has been there for a long time and we need to review the terms,” Ekumbo fired back.

“We have an exit clause with Nike contract but it’s until 2020 from there we shall be able to negotiate with another company for a better deal,” his boss, Kipchoge added.