Parliament team probes Sports Fund amid claims of impropriety

The National Assembly is now investigating alleged financial mismanagement at the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund following mounting concerns over “opaque” operations. 

The probe by the Sports and Culture Committee follows a request by Isiolo Woman Rep Mumina Bonaya who spoke of “public outcry” and over the management of the fund “and its associated entities, notably the Kenya Academy of Sports”.

Efforts to reach the Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum Thursday were futile as he neither responded to our calls nor text messages.

The fund is mandated to provide finance for the development and promotion of sports and arts, and social development. 

The House committee will now be seeking to establish the criteria used to identify and assess the needs of sports development.

The team is also expected to provide a detailed breakdown of the money allocated to the agency and how it has been spent in the last two financial years, including the distribution across the country. 

It will also be probing the “substandard” quality of sports activities provided. 

“The committee should also find out the reasons as to why the quality of preparations, the playing fields, the sports gear and the entire organisation of sports events do not reflect the budget allocated for their procurement despite the seemingly large amounts of financial resources directed towards these three purposes,” said Mumina while seeking a statement on the floor of the House on Wednesday.

She also asked the committee to list all companies contracted to supply playing kits and other sports equipment, along with explanation of the tendering processes. 

Mumina also wants the committee to recommend that a forensic audit to be undertaken by the Office of the Auditor General.

The chairman, Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama, promised to look into the issues raised and table a report in three weeks.

The fund conducts various sports activities such as tournaments within counties with an aim of growing young talent.

In one of the documents seen by The Standard, for instance, the Kenya Academy of Sports sought Sh19.95 million to undertake “a 10-day football camp and tournament for under 19 players in Mandera County.”

“The event will be conducted from the ward level targeting 30 teams from across Mandera county. This is in line with the Talanta Hela initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports implemented by Kenya Academy of Sports,”reads the letter dated July 19 to Tum.

The event aimed at providing a platform for coaches and players to sharpen their technical skills, know-how and life skills, among other benefits.

The Academy sought Sh8.59 million for the inter-ward and Sh5.74 million for the inter-sub county championships, and Sh5.60 million for the county finals.