Controversy clouds Athletics Kenya’s statement on 32 joyriders, Omanyala visa hitch

By , K24 Digital
On Tue, 19 Jul, 2022 14:49 | 2 mins read
Controversy clouds Athletics Kenya's statement on 32 joyriders, Omanyala visa hitch.
Ferdinand Omanyala PHOTO/(@FerdinandOmanyala)Facebook

Kenyans were on Tuesday, July 19, seething with rage following the contradictory statements from the Athletics Kenya official page.

This was after the body shared a statement denying allegations that 32 'joyriders' travelled to Oregon at the expense of key competitors who ended up experiencing hitches in their visas.

Their statement followed after they had dismissed a previous statement shared terming it as fake.

"The allegation that 32 government officials travelled to Oregon unprecise news to Athletics Kenya. To the best of our knowledge, only three government officials have travelled to Orgon for the 2022 world Athletics Championships,

"The ministry has put in place a strict policy that ensures that only officials with specific roles accompany teams out of the country, a responsibility entrusted to Athletics Kenya in a comprehensive brief from the ministry. Athletics Kenya expects the cabinet secretary to travel to the games as well and have scheduled meetings with Nike and world athletics," the statement reads in parts.

Kenyans troll Linda Oguttu over Athletic's Kenya statement

Leading journalist Linda Oguttu was embroiled in the drama after she shared a previous statement purported to be from Athletics Kenya.

She was however vindicated after the body released a statement similar to the communique she had earlier shared.

This left tongues waging, as quarters accused Oguttu of spreading fake information.

Here are some of the reactions from social media users

Brian Mbunde wrote: We need an explanation when top former journalists who work for the system share fake news.

Former Jedi Master wrote: I said it juzi most sports journalists & journalists in general wako under payroll ya Ministry of Sports. Kina Linda Oguttu knew what they were doing haikuwa coincidence.