Nairobi, Kenya, November 25: Kenyan athletes who had invaded and occupied Athletics Kenya offices for two days ended their protest Tuesday night following discussions which were brokered by Sports Development Principal Secretary, Dr Richard Ekai.
Wilson Kipsang the chairperson of Professional Athletics Association of Kenya (PAAK) that took a leading role in the standoff confirmed the development that the protest has ended for the time being.
He said the warring parties agreed to meet again next week at talks to be chaired by Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Dr.Hassan Wario whose agenda will also include proposals for the amendment of the federation constitution.
Wilson Kipsang the chairperson of Professional Athletics Association of Kenya (PAAK) that took a leading role in the standoff confirmed the development that the protest has ended for the time being.
He said the warring parties agreed to meet again next week at talks to be chaired by Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Dr.Hassan Wario whose agenda will also include proposals for the amendment of the federation constitution.
“I assure all athletes all over the country that we have talked and the standoff is over and we are going back to training. We believe we will sit down with the minister next week to get a solution on how our affairs will be run,” Kipsang said.
However, he appealed to government to treat the matter seriously warning that if issues that led to the protest are not resolved things would be worse in the future.
“We are requesting the government to take this issue seriously and what we have agreed should be implemented but if not we might have the scenario in the near future which might be even worse,” he warned.
The protesting athletes accused Athletics Kenya chief; Isaiah Kiplagat and his deputy, David Okeyo of allegedly embezzling sponsorship funds provided by sports kit manufacturer Nike amounting to US$500,000 and taking bribes to cover up doping cases.
They demanded the resignation of the two officials they allege are responsible for the rot at the Riadha House and called for thorough investigations into their wrong doings.
It has further been learnt that Dr, Ekai has ordered Kiplagat and Okeyo to temporally cease running Athletics Kenya affairs until the investigations into financial wrong doing and doping are resolved.
Kipsang said the protesting athletes had no option but take the militant stance because they had suffered long enough.
“Everybody knows. I have been championing change. As athletes, we have suffered for a long time. This is the time we want the federation in order,” he said.
They also accused their federation for not coming clean on the identities of their compatriots black listed by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on doping allegations which they claim has left the country’s athletes with bad odour on the international stage.
The protesting athletes also expressed fears that innocent athletes would suffer collective punishment if their federation fails to come clean on the allegations of doping and reports relating to financial wrong doing.
Pak Kiriuki who is Athletics Kenya official responsible for Nairobi region told international media that the doping allegations have tinted the reputation of Kenya athletes on the international sporting stage such that honest athletes are also regarded as cheats.
“We are harassed internationally. Any where you go, you are a suspect,” claimed Kiriuki.
The beleaguered officials were both not available for comment but Kiplagat was quoted by a local online publication that he will just wait and see how things will pan out in the next week meeting.
“I m not there anyway so there is no need to ask me to step aside. We shall wait and see what comes out of the meeting next week,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nike which provides material and financial support to the Kenyan athletics federation in sports kit, administration and identification of emerging talent has released a statement saying it is cooperating in the investigations.
“We are cooperating with the local authorities in their investigations. Nike conducts business with integrity and expects that our partners do the same,” the statement partly read.
However, he appealed to government to treat the matter seriously warning that if issues that led to the protest are not resolved things would be worse in the future.
“We are requesting the government to take this issue seriously and what we have agreed should be implemented but if not we might have the scenario in the near future which might be even worse,” he warned.
The protesting athletes accused Athletics Kenya chief; Isaiah Kiplagat and his deputy, David Okeyo of allegedly embezzling sponsorship funds provided by sports kit manufacturer Nike amounting to US$500,000 and taking bribes to cover up doping cases.
They demanded the resignation of the two officials they allege are responsible for the rot at the Riadha House and called for thorough investigations into their wrong doings.
It has further been learnt that Dr, Ekai has ordered Kiplagat and Okeyo to temporally cease running Athletics Kenya affairs until the investigations into financial wrong doing and doping are resolved.
Kipsang said the protesting athletes had no option but take the militant stance because they had suffered long enough.
“Everybody knows. I have been championing change. As athletes, we have suffered for a long time. This is the time we want the federation in order,” he said.
They also accused their federation for not coming clean on the identities of their compatriots black listed by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on doping allegations which they claim has left the country’s athletes with bad odour on the international stage.
The protesting athletes also expressed fears that innocent athletes would suffer collective punishment if their federation fails to come clean on the allegations of doping and reports relating to financial wrong doing.
Pak Kiriuki who is Athletics Kenya official responsible for Nairobi region told international media that the doping allegations have tinted the reputation of Kenya athletes on the international sporting stage such that honest athletes are also regarded as cheats.
“We are harassed internationally. Any where you go, you are a suspect,” claimed Kiriuki.
The beleaguered officials were both not available for comment but Kiplagat was quoted by a local online publication that he will just wait and see how things will pan out in the next week meeting.
“I m not there anyway so there is no need to ask me to step aside. We shall wait and see what comes out of the meeting next week,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nike which provides material and financial support to the Kenyan athletics federation in sports kit, administration and identification of emerging talent has released a statement saying it is cooperating in the investigations.
“We are cooperating with the local authorities in their investigations. Nike conducts business with integrity and expects that our partners do the same,” the statement partly read.
By: Joel Chirwa
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