Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has called out Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya over outstanding allowances owed to the national women's volleyball team.
In a statement on Friday, August 22, Sifuna said he had chosen to remain silent so as not to distract the national men’s football team, which is currently in action in the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The ODM Secretary General accused CS Mvurya of deceiving the Senate over the payment of allowances owed to national teams.
According to Sifuna, the Ministry of Sports is yet to clear the allowances despite CS Mvurya saying the Ministry had secured Ksh70 million.
"I’m keeping quiet for now so that the Harambee Stars boys can play and no one says I’m discouraging them. But moving forward, we must tell each other the truth.
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“The CS for Sports was in the Senate over a month ago, lying that he had secured Ksh70 million to clear all outstanding allowances for national teams, including the Ksh2 million for the Lionesses. He has not paid to this day, despite taking photos with them and a dummy cheque over three months ago,” Sifuna stated.
This comes after the Kenyan volleyball team, which is currently in Thailand for the World Volleyball Championship, released a video saying they have yet to receive their allowances.
The team asked CS Mvurya to honour his promise to them on clearing the outstanding allowances.
The Malkia Strikers also urged President William Ruto to motivate them like he did the Harambee Stars team.
“We came here with a target, and we don’t want to lose it, Mr. President. We are also your children motivate us.
“Mr CS, you promised us that our money would come, help us. We need something so that we can achieve what we came here to do. We are suffering, and that is why we are making this kind of video,” one of the members of the team stated.
While appearing before the Senate on July 23 CS Mvurya assured the Senators that the government would pay players the allowances owed to them.
"I want to assure the House that we have set aside Ksh70 million, which will be used to reward athletes who won matches but have not yet been honoured. Part of this amount will go to the national rugby team," Mvurya stated.
The Sports CS explained that the delayed disbursement of the funds was part of a structured process to ensure fairness for all deserving athletes.
