The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA) has raised alarm over missing title deeds for key sports facilities, including the Kasarani National Stadium.
In a heated session chaired by Vice-Chairperson and Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, lawmakers also questioned Sports Kenya officials over billions of shillings spent on incomplete and stalled projects.
Sports Kenya’s Acting Director General, Gabriel Komora, and his senior managers were put on the spot over audit queries dating back to the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 financial years.
The biggest concern was the Sh42 billion plan to build three new national stadiums in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Eldoret. Despite spending millions on feasibility studies and consultancy, none of the stadiums were ever built.
“How do you justify spending millions on consultancy when you don’t even have land titles for these projects?” asked Amisi. Records show Sports Kenya paid Sh99.6 million for feasibility studies and Sh57 million for architectural services, even without securing land ownership.
Lawmakers warned that the delays risk turning Vision 2030 sports projects into a “wasted investment and poor value for taxpayers.”
Cost overruns in ongoing projects also angered MPs. The Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, initially budgeted at Sh109.7 million, has risen to Sh355.1 million. “Why were these extra costs not foreseen in the original contract?” asked Hon. Martin Owino. Sports Kenya was also pressed to provide documents for a new Sh3.5 billion rehabilitation contract for the stadium.
MPs also questioned suspicious payments, including Sh24.4 million linked to a Moscow football club. Komora said the matter fell under the Ministry of Sports, but the committee insisted on answers.
The audit further revealed that Sports Kenya does not have proper title deeds for Kasarani Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre. Komora told MPs that efforts to get titles from the National Land Commission had been slowed by encroachment and historical land disputes.
Lawmakers were also alarmed by the failure to remit statutory deductions. Sports Kenya withheld Sh16.3 million in PAYE and Sh96,388 in pension contributions but failed to send them to the authorities. “Money deducted from employees’ pay is not your money,” warned MP Wambugu Michael, saying the lapse was costly to taxpayers.
The session turned tense after MPs warned Sports Kenya’s finance head, Japeth Kaunyu, against giving misleading information, reminding him that the proceedings were judicial in nature.
The committee resolved to carry out a physical inspection of projects, including Kipchoge Keino Stadium, and demanded a detailed report on all proposed stadiums since 2015.
“This Committee will not allow billions of public funds to vanish under the guise of stalled projects,” said Amisi.
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