(ATR) An investigation into the mismanagement of funds meant for athletes at the Rio 2016 Olympics has produced another arrest.
Ben Ekumbo, vice-president of the Kenyan Olympic Committee, was arrested at his home in Nairobi yesterday according to local media reports. Ekumbo is also president of the Kenyan Swimming Federation. Local reports say Ekumbo was found hiding under his bed when police came to arrest him.
Police arrested Ekumbo on charges stemming from stealing apparel from the Kenyan Olympic team. After his arrest, police reportedly seized multiple boxes from his apartment containing uniforms produced by Nike.
Ekumbo is the fifth Kenyan official arrested for embezzling funds or apparel used for the team’s Rio delegation.
Legal problems for the NOC-K began when officials began travelling to Rio to compete in the Games. In September, chef de mission Stephen Arap Soi was arrested for reportedly stealing $256,000 earmarked for accommodations for athletes and officials. The money came from the National Olympic Committee, Athletics Kenya, and the sports ministry. Soi reportedly traveled to Brazil with the money and did not declare it to customs.
Two other officials, NOC-K vice president Pius Ochieng and secretary general Francis Kinyili Paul, were charged with stealing team apparel from Nike. All three officials remain out on bail, and Paul was part of the official Kenyan delegation to the Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly last week in Doha. No athletes have been found connected to the scheme.
During Rio 2016, Kenyan athletics manager Major Rotich was suspended for "boasting the ability to skirt anti-doping protocols." After the Olympics, the Kenyan government disbanded the NOC for "mismanagement" during the 2016 Games.
Kenyan Olympic officials say they have contacted the IOC for help in curbing the sport governance issues the country faces. The IOC told Around the Rings in Augustthey are monitoring the situation but the NOC could face a suspension for autonomy issues.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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