Wario finally receives Rio 2016 Probe Committee report

Sports Cabinet Secretary Dr. Hassan Wario on Friday afternoon received the final report into the probe he ordered on the Rio 2016 Olympics Games fiasco where officials were accused of mistreating Team Kenya athletes, embezzling funds and stealing kit from Nike.

Members of the 2016 Olympics Games Probe Committee submitted their final report to the minister that is said to contain damning details on the excesses perpetuated by National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) officials and recommendations to stem a repeat ahead of Tokyo 2020.

A communication glitch between Wario’s office and his media team saw a planned press briefing called to witness the occasion cancelled in a handover process mired in confusion with the Assistant Director of Public Communications, Richard Abura, later declaring the minister would make its contents public after going through the findings.

Members of the Probe Committee led by their chairman Paul Ochieng were holed up in the ministry headquarters’ boardroom having booked an appointment with the Minister before they finally handed over their report.

“Someone must have heard that Wario was going to receive the report today (Friday) and thought that the Minister was going to say something on what it was all about. Even if he’s receiving the report today then he obviously won’t have a good grasp of what it was all about.

“He may only end up preempting issues that otherwise need time to understand,” Abura told Citizen Digital.

The committee, which was appointed by Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Dr Hassan Wario on August 29, was initially expected to hand it to over by September 30.

Members collected information from affected athletes and other stakeholders having camped in Eldoret where most of the Team Kenya track and field stars who returned with a record haul of 13 medals- six gold, six silver and a bronze- reside and train.

According to reports, the Probe Committee has recommended stern action t be taken against officials responsible for the Rio 2016 Olympics mess while suggesting preventive measures against a recurrence.

At the Royal Media Services-sponsored Chamgei FM Extravaganza held a fortnight ago to celebrate the historic achievement Rio 2016 stars that topped the African medal charts at the quadrennial showpiece and finished 13th overall complained of delayed justice while politicians present accused Wario of negligence.

Three senior Nock officials- first Vice-Chairman, Pius Ochieng, Secretary General Francis Kinyili Paul and Team Kenya Head of Mission, Stephen arap Soi- are on the dock charged by the State over theft and abuse of office as a result of the scandal.