Two senior Kenyan sports officials arrested in multi-million corruption scandal

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NAIROBI - Two senior Kenyan sports ministry officials were arrested on Wednesday and are set to face charges of embezzling 3.8 billion shillings ($29  million) in public funds through fraudulent schemes.

A senior assistant commissioner and an accountant at the department were arrested, along with three others, during house and office raids by anti-corruption officials, who recovered large sums of cash.

Anti-graft body the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), said the operation was carried out under a court warrant to investigate allegations that the officials unlawfully acquired the money during the 2020–2021 and 2025–2026 financial years.

"The suspects allegedly abused their positions of trust and authority to embezzle public funds through collusion and procurement fraud," the EACC said in a statement.

Officers recovered 3.58 million shillings (about $1,025) in cash, along with other evidence, during their searches.

The arrests come a day after the country's sports minister was summoned by parliament over "alleged misappropriation of billions of shillings in stadium projects and sporting events."

The East African country is currently undertaking major stadium construction and renovation ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which it will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.

Corruption has long plagued Kenyan sports, with a former minister previously charged with embezzling 55 million shillings (some $425,000) during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.