DCI opens investigations on Ferdinand Omanyala visa saga
Ferdinand Omanyala was scheduled to participate at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon State, the US but his journey was delayed over a visa saga.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has opened investigations over claims of bribery and the inclusion of joyriders in the delegation that jetted out this week for the 2022 World Athletics Championship in Oregon, United States.
George Kinoti, the director of criminal investigations, announced on Friday that his office had been contacted to look into claims that joyriders had been added to the list of athletes, coaches, and technical officials provided by Athletics Kenya (AK).
“It is really shocking… this is a shame not to the country but to the whole world… we shall not accept,” said Kinoti, while confirming the ongoing investigations, which he said commenced at the invitation of the Ministry of Sports.
Ferdinand Omanyala, the fastest man in Africa, almost missed the feet due to delays in the processing of US travel visas due to the alleged bloating of the trip list from 80 to 112.
However, the State Department of Sports has strongly denied allegations that joyriders paid Sh2 million each in bribes to be included in the list.
Joe Okudo, the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Sports said that not a single government official had traveled to the US.
He maintained that the World Athletics Championships fall squarely under the ambit of Athletics Kenya as a federation but not the Ministry.
The PS said that the Sports Ministry was only involved when Athletics Kenya asked for assistance with Visas after the US Embassy said it needed the government to endorse the delegation.
“All athletes got their visas except Omanyala because some information was not disclosed in his application, which had nothing to do with AK. Omanyala is best placed to answer that,” said Okudo.
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