Otuoma – Account for Funds

Sammy Kitula

15 June 2011

Nairobi — Sports minister Paul Otuoma is concerned that no sports association has tabled its financial statements to his ministry, yet officials are quick to ask for funding.

While allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds in sports federations cause seismic shifts, a much smaller tremor could in fact lead to far greater reform and revolution from within the associations following the minister’s remarks.

“It is quite interesting that associations keep on asking for funds from the government, yet none has filed its audited accounts for each financial year,” said Otuoma.

“There is need to know how the money we give them is utilised. There is need for accountability.”

Athletics Kenya differs

But when contacted, Athletics Kenya Secretary General David Okeyo said his association has always filed its audited accounts at the end of each year.

“That is not true. We normally have our audited reports every year at annual general meetings, and we post the same on our website,” said Okeyo.

According to Okeyo, it was the prerogative of the government to take care of all national teams out on international assignments.

“The obligation of national federations is to prepare teams for international assignments. The government, thus, takes care of their travel and allowances and that is what we are requesting for from the government,” added Okeyo.

Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) treasurer, David Ngugi echoed Okeyo’s sentiments, saying his association has been filing its audited accounts each year and if that were not the case, federation members could have questioned the same during their annual general meetings.

“We have told him (Otuoma) several times to organise for a meeting with the federations. The problem is that he listens to people who seem to misadvise him most of the time,” said Ngugi.

Among other things, Otuoma emphasised that henceforth, more transparency will be required from all sports federations.

Meanwhile, AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat is rooting for extra funding to be made available to 210 affiliate members of the International Association of Athletics Federations and reconstitution of the discipline’s premier competition, the World championships.

Kiplagat, who will be vying for the post of one of the four vice presidents at the IAAF during its congress in South Korea on August 24 and 25, faulted the little support and financial aid that is trickling down to the federations.

He urged for restructuring of the world championships to capture all federations, saying it should be turned into an event held after every four years.

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