DCI Demands Documents As Omanyala Visa Probe Heats Up

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has now requested documents to back up investigations into claims of bribery and the inclusion of joyriders in the delegation that travelled to Oregon, United States (US) for the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

Head of the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit Mike Muia has asked the Ministry of Sports to furnish them with 12 different sets of documents to the investigative agency's headquarters along Kiambu Road to establish the truth regarding the matter, which is almost turning into a scandal.

The DCI is also requesting Athletics Kenya (AK) to provide it with “all payment vouchers in respect to allowances paid to athletes and central management officials who were approved to take part in the Oregon 2022 World Athletics Championships,” and a “detailed payment list of overseas allowances for Team Kenya”.

DCI Director George Kinoti speaking during a past address. /CAPITAL GROUP

“This office is investigating an alleged matter of mismanagement of Team Kenya, which participated in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon. To facilitate our investigations, kindly furnish us with the following documents,” said Muia in a letter to AK sent on Tuesday, July 19.

The developments come as the mystery surrounding the exact number of delegates that travelled to the US alongside 46 Kenyan athletes enters its second week with AK not providing any forthcoming answers.

The agency was put on the spot after the saga almost cost Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala a place in the championships due to delays in getting his visa from the US Embassy. He arrived in Oregon two hours before his first race and missed out on the finals after finishing fifth in the semis.

Omanyala on Friday, July 22 defended the government after AK revealed that he was to blame for his visa woes, advising Kenyans to stop blaming the Ministry of Sports for the issue, which had seen him miss out on travelling with Team Kenya for the championships on Tuesday night, July 12.

He noted that it was actually the Ministry, under Sports Cabinet Secretary, Amb Amina Mohammed, which rescued him from the saga which if it did not happen, would have seen him miss out on the championships which would have been a huge blow to the athletics team.

"Like I said, there is no one to blame for my visa delay.

"We all as athletes went for visa interviews at the embassy. After that, I was sent supplementary questions that needed clarification," read the statement in part.

Omanyala added that on the penultimate day, his visa from the US Embassy in Kenya was not released, prompting the government to step in and solve the issue.

"In fact, the Ministry of Sports through CS Amb Amina Mohamed were instrumental in my visa being granted once the issue was raised," he added.