Detained amputees cry out
Kasarani.
Kenya’s amputee football officials alongside those from Angola and Ghana are being detained at the Sportsview Hotel over unpaid bills amounting to Sh3.8 million.
Two other teams, Nigeria and Sierra Leone escaped from the hotel and left the country according to the manager Marion Kago.
“We asked the teams to leave their passports with us but they broke the gate and ran away. The Kenya, Angola and Ghana officials are still here. Liberian officials are not here but they left with our consent and we know their whereabouts,” she said.
Sonko’s pledge
The teams had participated in the Africa Cup of Nations for Amputees that ended at City Stadium last week, where Liberia emerged winners following a 2-1 win over Angola in the final.
Kenya Federation of Amputees Football (KFAF) treasurer Charity Kamau said Nairobi Senator Gideon Mbuvi had promised to offset the bill, and was to visit them at the hotel after the Kenya @50 celebrations held at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani but he is yet to show up four days later.
“I think he got caught up in the celebrations. We thought he would show up at the weekend. We do not know what to do now as we are unable to contact anyone in a position to help us,” she said.
Two other KFAF officials, chairman Ibrahim Wafula and secretary Peter Oloo have also been detained at the hotel.
On Wednesday they held a press conference to appeal for help from the Government and well-wishers but no one has come to their aid.
Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch said the Government was not to blame for the mess the amputees found themselves in.
“They requested for funding but we told them to postpone the championship because the Government did not have money,” he said.