Angry amputees plan demo
By BRIAN YONGAThe national amputee football team will hold a demonstration today to protest over Government neglect.
Federation of Amputee Football (KFAF) chairman Ibrahim Wafula says that the players and officials will meet at Kencom bus stop to demonstrate over the Government’s refusal to foot a bill that has left their three officials detained at the Sportsview Hotel in Kasarani.
KFAF hosted the Africa Cup of Nations for Amputees at the City Stadium in Nairobi a fortnight ago following a pledge by the African Federation of Football for Amputees president Francis Sowah to cater for all their bills.
Huge debt
“He promised to send the money, trophies and medals. Everything except the money eventually arrived. The tournament ended without Sowah showing up and we incurred a debt of Sh3.5 million at the hotel,” says Wafula.
Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko’ Mbuvi helped the officials contact Sports Ministry officials, Wafula alleges that Principal Secretary James Waweru has declined to commit to the payment of the arrears.
Consequently, Wafula and two other KFAF officials Charity Kamau and Peter Oloo have been detained at the hotel since the tournament ended on December 11.
“The Ministry of Sports had agreed to settle the bill after the intervention of Sonko but one of the signatories has declined to sign the document,” says Wafula.
The hotel agreed to let him go for the protest, albeit accompanied by their security.
“On Saturday they accompanied me to check on our accounts to see if any any money had been deposited. They also allowed me to go and see my children at Land Mawe where they were attending Madrasa classes,” he says.