Kenyan Athlete Takes Her Battle to Court as She Sues Federation Over Unpaid Dues

Kenyan fencer Alexandra Ndolo’s fight for her dues has taken a fresh turn after she filed a case at the Nairobi High Court seeking to compel the Kenya Fencing Federation (KFF) to produce its audited accounts.

Ndolo has been at loggerheads with her federation since before and after the Paris 2024 Olympics, accusing it of frustrating her by not aiding her preparations for various competitions.

The German-born fencer now wants the federation to produce all their audited accounts, which shows all funds received from 2021-2025 and how they were utilised.

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“An order of mandamus compelling the 1st respondent (KFF) to forthwith produce and furnish the petitioner with the following information and records within fourteen (14) days of this Honorable Court’s judgement: a certified copy of the 1st respondent’s constitution; audited financial statements for the years 2021 to 2025; a detailed breakdown of all public and international funds received from the Government of Kenya and the International Fencing Federation (FIE); and records of past elections, including notices, register of voters and minutes,” the petition reads.

This is because Ndolo feels the federation has not been truthful to her when it comes to funding after it allegedly claimed that no funding has been received, forcing her to use her own resources to represent Kenya at international competitions.

“An order of mandamus compelling the 1st respondent to process and reimburse the petitioner for all expenses duly incurred on behalf of the Kenyan fencing team, supported by valid documentation submitted to the federation,” says the petition which is also seeking to have the fencer reimbursed the money she spent to represent the country.

Ndolo’s affront is not new as she sought help from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Directorate of Criminal Investigations over money she was owed, totaling to Ksh270,000 that she spent during the African Championships in Morocco last year.

“I am still awaiting response from the DCI. I filed another complaint with EACC and got a response…I also got a response from the Ministry of Sports…so that’s settled. I was able to tell them how much money I was owed and it was paid but that was only for last year’s African Championships. The competitions that weren’t sponsored by National Olympic Committee (NOCK), those ones are taken care of…those that are not sponsored by NOCK, I still continue to fund myself,” Ndolo told Capital FM last weekend as quoted by Capital Sports.

She claims the fencing federation has always claimed that their budgets are not approved by the Ministry of Sports while nothing has been said of any funding from the global fencing body, forcing her to take side jobs to raise money to feature in competitions.

“Whereas the international fencing federation does not specifically say the funding belongs to a particular athlete, still, I was the only Kenyan at the African Championships. When they (KFF) were asked, they said I refused the money, which was totally untrue,” she said.

“I published and wrote a children’s book in Germany so I go around and give readings, which is a great project. Actually, if you want to be a pro, you shouldn’t have to do these side hustles to finance yourself to go and represent the country.”

Justice Chacha Mwita directed that all parties be served and responses filed within 14 days with a way forward set to be given by the court on November 23.

Ndolo’s woes are well publicized as she has complained about being frustrated since 2023, when she announced that she would represent Kenya at the Paris Olympics, initially hitting out at Ministry of Sports and National Olympics Committee of Kenya over funding challenges she faced, before she finally received help but she has remained dissatisfied by KFF’s way of running the fencing federation.