AFC Leopards officials fight over DP Ruto’s Sh3m donation
A fundraising event meant to cushion AFC Leopards from the deep financial challenges turned into a drama-filled occasion after three sets of groups fought for the proceeds for almost an hour.
The event, presided by Deputy President William Ruto at the KICC’s Aberdare hall, ended at 9 pm on Thursday evening with some Sh 4.5 million raised.
The DP donated Sh 3 million that included Sh 1 million from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
But no sooner had the DP and his entourage – that included Governors Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), Moses Akaranga (Vihiga), Water cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa and club patron Cyrus Jirongo – left the venue than the real trouble started.
TAKE MONEY HOME
At the onset, two factions led by Matthews Opwora and Dan Mule, each claiming to be the bona fide officials of the club, insisted they had to take home the money.
Interestingly, each camp claimed to have organised the event and invited the Deputy President.
Mr Opwora’s version seemed more credible owing to the fact that he had sat at the “high table”, an arm’s length away from Mr Ruto.
“Ruto and Jirongo don’t even know these people and they are here claiming to be officials of AFC Leopards. Why didn’t he call them out by name. Now they want to go and eat the money they way they have been eating other proceeds,” Secretary General Suleiman Angulu posed.
Immediately after, Leopards Croatian coach Zdravko Logarusic declared that the playing and coaching unit, who were present at the event, be paid their outstanding allowances and salaries stretching back three months.
NOT LEAVING WITHOUT MONEY
“We have suffered enough and this money was raised for us. We are not leaving here without the money because as you can see, nobody among these officials can be trusted,” Logarusic told Nairobi News.
A solution was finally arrived at minutes to 10 pm when it was declared that a security firm within the premises will be paid to keep the money overnight.
This decision evidently left several people, including service providers such as bouncers, ushers, isukuti dancers and idlers having to wait until Friday to access the money.