The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA) has launched a probe into suspected misappropriation of billions of shillings in stadium construction and sporting event management by Sports Kenya.
During a session chaired by Vice-Chairperson Caleb Amisi, the Committee grilled Sports Kenya CEO Gabriel Komora over ballooning project costs, missing financial records, and unrefunded public funds that lawmakers said point to deliberate mismanagement of taxpayer money.
“We are witnessing deliberate financial mismanagement. Taxpayers’ money cannot just disappear without accountability,” said Amisi.
The inquiry uncovered staggering cost escalations across several projects.
At Kinoru Stadium, the initial contract valued at Sh109 million was revised upwards to Sh355 million — an increase of Sh246 million that remains unexplained.
Lawmakers also flagged discrepancies in the construction of regional stadiums where seven county stadiums were initially budgeted at Sh2.854 billion but later appeared as eight projects costing Sh2.9 billion, despite an ongoing Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) investigation into the projects.
MPs questioned how an extra stadium was introduced and why costs continued to rise without corresponding progress.
“The pattern of missing documentation, escalating costs, and unrefunded advances points to systemic failures,” observed Martin Owino.
The Committee also faulted Sports Kenya for paying Sh30 million to consultants for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) stadium models that were never implemented.
Lawmakers termed the expenditure a waste of public funds, saying it reflected poor planning and lack of accountability.
Komora told MPs that original project records had been handed over to the EACC and not returned, forcing the agency to rely on certified copies.
However, Committee members rejected the explanation and demanded that the records be retrieved to ensure full scrutiny of the accounts.
The probe also revealed financial irregularities linked to the 2017 World Under-18 Athletics Championships.
Sports Kenya reportedly spent Sh382 million on the event, but the Ministry of Sports only refunded Sh274.8 million, leaving an outstanding balance of Sh47.39 million.
Additionally, interest payments amounting to Sh73 million remain unsettled.
Lawmakers further questioned the unexplained transfer of Sh48 million to Athletics Kenya officials, which lacked supporting documentation.
“If Sports Kenya paid out the money, it must account for it under the Public Finance Management Act,” Amisi said.
The MPs vowed to pursue the matter to its conclusion, warning that those found culpable would face sanctions.
“There was significant corruption. The system was weak and open to abuse,” warned MP Benjamin Langat.
The Committee announced plans to summon officials from the Ministries of Sports and Defence, the EACC, and former Sports Kenya executives as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Sports Kenya pledged full cooperation as the parliamentary watchdog moves to conclude hearings in the coming months.
