Athletics Kenya Boss Stands by Stephen Soi Amid Rio Olympics Funds Scandal

Image source: Standard Kenya

Athletics Kenya Boss Stands by Stephen Soi Amid Rio Olympics Funds Scandal

Abigael Wafula 10:30 - 09.05.2025

Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei has defended Stephen Soi against misappropriation charges, claiming he fulfilled his duties during the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei has explained why the 2016 Rio Olympic Games Chef De Mission Stephen Arap Soi is innocent.

The 2016 Rio Olympic Games’ scandal involved allegations of misappropriation of funds that were allocated to Team Kenya.

It included funds for athletes' allowances and missing Nike kits, with former National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) officials and a former Cabinet Secretary being charged with the offences. Stephen Soi was among those charged with theft and faced multiple counts of stealing.

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Jack Tuwei defends Stephen Soi

Jack Tuwei defends Stephen Soi
Jack Tuwei defends Stephen Soi

Speaking to the Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, Jack Tuwei insisted that Stephen Soi is in the clear since he performed his duties as expected.

Jack Tuwei pointed out that there were a few hiccups, but he handled everything maturely, and the athletes performed well.

He added that coming from the military, Soi had undergone the necessary training and could not have committed crimes.

“Soi did not commit any wrong by authorising payments of allowances to sportsmen and officials since they had been budgeted for by the government and AK,” Tuwei was testifying as a defence witness as quoted by Nation Sport.

“Despite a few hiccups in Rio related to doping and accreditation, the team performed excellently well. Kenya brought home six gold medals, six silver medals, and one bronze.

“We had actually clinched 14 medals but one was later taken away. The chef de mission is usually a military officer due to their high-level training and discipline.”

Accusations against Stephen Soi

Accusations against Stephen Soi
Accusations against Stephen Soi

Stephen Soi was charged with the misappropriation of over Ksh 25 million (Ksh 25,907,705.82) from the Government of Kenya, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K), and Athletics Kenya.

He is facing these allegations alongside former NOC-K Vice President Pius Ochieng and former Secretary General Francis Kinyili Paul.

The charges also include the fraudulent acquisition of Team Kenya kits supplied by Nike, but all three accused have been released on a cash bail of Ksh 200,000 each. The hearing is scheduled to resume on May 12, 2025.