Calls intensify for government to disclose full list of Kenyan delegation to Paris Olympics

Kenyans will soon know the entire delegation that accompanied the Kenyan team to the Paris 2024 Olympics if an official request by the office of the Ombudsman to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports to avail the information is actualised.

In a letter addressed to CS Ababu Namwamba, the Commission on Administrative Justice aka "Office of the Ombudsman" citing Article 35 (1) (a) of the right of access to information held by the State said the law requires the state to publish and publicise important information affecting the nation proactively.

The commission's move was prompted by a letter from Bond Advocates LLP on behalf of Charleen Njuguna, Jolly Lanji, and Bevalyne Kwamboka dated Monday this week requesting information on Kenya's delegation to the Paris Olympics 2024.

"The Request for Information relates to; a list of all non-competitive participants traveling at public expense with the official Kenyan delegation to the Paris Olympics, a schedule of the individual roles of each of them, a schedule of the allowances and sustenance costs for each of them and an indication of their cumulative costs," states the firm's request.

Consequently, the Access to Information Commissioner Lucy Ndung'u wants CS Namwamba to respond to the request in line with section 9(4) of the ATI Act, 2016.

The ministry has since received the request and has asked the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) to expedite the final list of the Team Kenya delegation composed of athletes, officials, and medics detailing the specific role of each member.

"The delegation is to be kept at the barest minimum as directed by myself and affirmed by the Preparatory and Management Committee (PMC). The priority is athletes, their coaches, and medics," the CS directed in the letter to the Secretary-General, of the National Olympics Committee of Kenya Mr Francis Mutuku.

The minister further asked for the provisional budget agreed upon between NOCK and the Principal Secretary and the final budget detailing the allowances each delegate will receive and the austerity measures the ministry implements across all expenditure centres.

He at the same time asked for a detailed report on the process, status, and cost of the ceremonial, training, and competition kit for Team Kenya as procured by NOCK.

"Do further note that in line with the government's transparency and accountability policy, the full team Kenya delegation should be made public by NOCK," the minister adds in the letter.

The letter does not, however, seek for disclosure of persons who may have travelled with the team without an official role.

Former Rugby player Dennis Ombachi who has been pushing for the list to be made public claimed the list from NOCK is likely not to include the Government's list of attendees.

"NOCK will publish the athletes and primary team officials, but of importance is you publish the government list," he said in a post on X.

Good morning @AbabuNamwamba stop trying being clever by deflecting to NOCK.

NOCK will publish the athletes and primary team officials, but of importance is you publish the Governments list.

You see I have been part of the system before you joined so you can’t fool us, I know… pic.twitter.com/ZvIJBqR7Mi

— dennis ombachi OLY (@ombachi13) July 11, 2024

In 2016, Kenyans were shocked to hear that athletes experienced problems during the Rio Olympics in Brazil despite the government having splashed Sh588 million for the games, part of which was allegedly stolen by senior government officials.