No Joyriders in Kenya's Olympic contingent to Paris, assures NOC-K & Sports PS

No Joyriders in Kenya's Olympic contingent to Paris, assures NOC-K & Sports PS

Mark Kinyanjui 11:13 - 18.07.2024

NOC-K has further revealed its intention to facilitate as many Kenyan fans who wish to travel to the Olympics as soon as possible, with the delegation list details revealed.

The Sports Ministry, in collaboration with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K), has assured that the Kenyan delegation to the Paris Olympic Games, commencing later this month, will be strictly composed of essential personnel.

The traveling team will consist of 150 athletes from six disciplines, along with their coaches, support staff, and team leadership.

Only key figures, such as PS Peter Tum and the chairmen of the Senate and Parliamentary Committees on sports, are included in the traveling team under the government's provision. 

The stringent measures aim to ensure that all participants play a direct role in supporting Kenya's Olympic ambitions.

NOC-K is open to assisting individuals or groups from both local and national government who wish to travel to Paris to cheer on the athletes.

Through their hospitality partners, NOC-K will provide letters of recommendation and other necessary travel information to facilitate the supporters' journey.

“We would like as many Kenyans to go cheer our boys and girls in Paris. Our athletes are our superheroes who bring us much joy,” said PS Peter Tum during a media briefing on Thursday morning.

He further emphasized that supporters would need to cover their travel and accommodation expenses.

PS Tum expressed confidence in Kenya's prospects at the Paris Games, crediting the rigorous training camps both locally and in Miramas, France, for preparing the athletes. 

“We shall therefore accord maximum support to those who want to go cheer them on in Paris as long as you are prepared to pay for your travel and accommodation there,” he reiterated.

The announcement comes in the wake of weeks of sustained protests and pressure by Kenyans to ensure transparency in every action taken by President William Ruto’s government.

Ruto recently dismissed his entire cabinet, including sports CS Ababu Namwamba, who had been under pressure by Kenyans to release the delegation list for the Paris games, led by former Shujaa star Dennis Ombachi.

Ombachi had been among those who sustained pressure on former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to release a list of the government delegation to the Olympics in a bid to check if they are joyriders.

With Namwamba gone, Ombachi turned the heat on the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) who he has urged to publish its non-competitive delegation and the allowances they will earn in Paris in comparison to the athletes.

The issue of the non-competitive delegation has generated interest among Kenyans amid ongoing protests over the leadership and government Ruto and a section of Kenyans had even threatened to take legal action against Namwamba if he did not publish the list in seven days.

The former CS had, however, thrown the ball in NOC-K’s court, asking them to publish the list as demanded by Kenyans.

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