Athletics Legend Kipchoge, Wario Surrender, Arrested Over Rio Saga

18th October 2018

Former NOCK chief and ex-minister among four detained after presenting themselves at DCI head quarters, expected at Anti-Corruption court on Friday

Kenyan former sports principal secretary, Richard Ekai (R), former head of mission for the Rio Olympic Games, Stephen Soi (C), and Kenya's national Olympic committee secretary general, Francis Kanyili, sit at a Nairobi court in Kenya, October 15, 2018, to answer alleged charges of corruption during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. PHOTO/AFP
Kenyan former sports principal secretary, Richard Ekai (R), former head of mission for the Rio Olympic Games, Stephen Soi (C), and Kenya's national Olympic committee secretary general, Francis Kanyili, sit at a Nairobi court in Kenya, October 15, 2018, to answer alleged charges of corruption during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. PHOTO/AFP
SUMMARY
  • Harun Komen, a former Director and Patrick Kimithi, finance official at the Sports Ministry were the other suspects who did not appear at the Anti-Corruption Court on Monday to face the charges are the others in custody
  • Wario, who is currently Kenya’s ambassador to Austria, is set to face graft charges alongside other Ministry of Sports officials after being implicated in the embezzlement of over KSh55m (USD550,000) set aside by the Government for the Rio 2016 Olympics
  • Relatives and other close acquaintances of the accused in what amounted to abuse of office in a trip riddled with joy riders instead used these tickets

NAIROBI, Kenya- Athletics legend Dr. Hezekiah Kipchoge Keino, former Sports Cabinet Secretary Dr. Hassan Wario and two others were arrested on Thursday morning after surrendering to Kenyan authorities over the Rio 2016 Olympics saga.

Harun Komen, a former Director and Patrick Kimithi, finance official at the Sports Ministry were the other suspects who did not appear at the Anti-Corruption Court on Monday to face the charges are the others in custody.

The four were taken in after surrendering to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) head quarters following a court order issued on Monday that required them to avail themselves to be charged with misappropriation of public money and abuse of office.

They are expected to appear in court on Friday to answer to the charges levelled against them.

Wario, who is currently Kenya’s ambassador to Austria, is set to face graft charges alongside other Ministry of Sports officials after being implicated in the embezzlement of over KSh55m (USD550,000) set aside by the Government for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) charge Wario, retired two-time Olympic champion, Keino who is the immediate former National Olympic Committee-Kenya president and five others are charged with making unauthorised payments, inflated allowances of over KSh15m (USD150,000) and procuring air tickets to Brazil costing KSh22m (USD220,000) that were not used by Team Kenya athletes or officials.

Relatives and other close acquaintances of the accused in what amounted to abuse of office in a trip riddled with joy riders instead used these tickets.

Three co-accused, former Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Richard Titus Ekai, NOCK Secretary General Francis Kinyili Paul and Team Kenya Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, Stephen Kiptanui arap Soi appeared before Anti Corruption magistrate Douglas Ogoti to face charges having spent last weekend in custody.

The decision to charge Kipchoge elicited mixed reactions on social media owing to his age and legend status.

-Material from www.citizentv.co.ke used in this report