Renowned chef Dennis Ombachi has called out Athletics Kenya and the National Olympic Committee (NOCK) over concerns about the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics delegation.
In a statement made on X, Ombachi has demanded that the NOCK publish the full list of officials travelling to France and their budgetary allocations for the Paris Games.
He warned the sports bodies that Kenyans would not relent in in their calls for accountability just because former Sports CS Ababu Namwamba had vacated office.
“Good morning @athletics_kenya @OlympicsKe just because @AbabuNamwamba vacated office doesn’t mean the public has forgotten that you already have official joyriders in #ParisOlympics2024,” said Ombachi.
‘We are still demanding for accountability on the public resources that will be spent.”
Calls for Transparency
Additionally, Ombachi revealed that he had reached out to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), inquiring on why they were “sponsoring budgeted corruption in Kenya.”
“I reached out to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) enquiring why they are sponsoring budgeted corruption in Kenya, and they replied stating the obvious,” he said.
Also Read: Inspiring Story of Dennis Ombachi: From a Rugby Star to Self-Made Chef
Furthermore, Ombachi in his statement pointed out that at the Tokyo Olympics, officials were paid twice the number of allowances allocated to athletes, and alleged that the amount has more than tripled for Paris.
He expressed Kenyans as well as his own frustration with the sports bodies’ perceived lack of transparency and called out the “old boomers” at the helm of these institutions.
“We are tired, and athletes have said enough is enough with old boomers at the helm of federations who don’t represent the interest of athletes but filling their pockets and stomachs through budgeted corruption.”
Ombachi Protests the Exclusion of Kevin Kipkorir from the Paris Team
Additionally, in an earlier tweet, the renowned chef and former rugby player expressed outrage over the abrupt removal of prominent athlete Kevin Kipkorir from the Paris 2024 Olympics team list.
He highlighted that the selection of athletes for such games should always be based on merit and emphasized that this was true to the code of sportsmanship
Ombachi however, questioned Kipkorir’s exclusion noting that he had qualified for the games by recording the second-best time after Ekwom in the 400m event.
Also Read: Athlete Dropped Last Minute After Quitting Job to Compete in Paris Olympics
“Can someone kindly explain why African 400M silver medalist Kevin Kipkorir is set to miss out on the Olympic Games despite recording the second-best time after Ekwom?”
The renowned chef has called for answers from the relevant institutions and federations, stating that they are being used to “kill the dreams and future of young sportsmen & women.”
“We need answers as to why the same institutions and federations trusted to safeguard athletes’ welfare are being used to kill the dreams and future of young sportsmen & women.”
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