Kenyan top officials charged over Olympics corruption

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Seven top Kenyan officials will be slapped with corruption charges over the alleged misappropriation of over 500,000 US dollars during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the public prosecutor said Saturday.

In a statement, Kenyan chief prosecutor Noordin Haji named former sports minister Hassan Wario and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kipchoge Keino – who headed the Kenyan Olympic Committee – as among those to be charged.

"During the Rio Olympics, the government set aside 544 million shillings (5.4 million US dollars, 4.6 million euros) to facilitate athletes' participation in the Games," read the statement. "Unfortunately part of the funds was mismanaged thus denying the athletes proper facilitation."

(L-R) Kipchoge Keino, Thomas Bach, Carlos Arthur Nuzman at the Opening Ceremony at Maracana during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 5, 2016. /VCG Photo

Kenya suffered the graft in 2016 during its Olympic campaign which saw athletes' team uniforms stolen by officials.

"The impact of corruption and siphoning of funds meant for the facilitation of our sports men and women has a negative impact on their ability to perform optimally," said Haji.

The seven suspects were given until Monday to turn themselves in, and will face six counts of abuse of office, and four counts of failing to comply with laws on the management of public funds.

The charges cover embezzlement, the purchase of unauthorized air tickets, overpayment of allowances and expenditure on unauthorized persons, all to the amount of 55 million shillings.

Source(s): AFP