Citizen TV journalist Waihiga Mwaura testimony in court sheds light on Rio Olympics scandal

Citizen TV journalist testifies on corruption case facing ex CS

Mumbi Mutuko

July 17, 2019 9:44 AM

Journalist tells it all in court

Citizen TV journalist Waihiga Mwaura

Citizen TV journalist Waihiga Mwaura testified on Wednesday for four hours over the Rio Olympics scandal facing Nock officials.

During his testimony before Magistrate Elizabeth Osoro, Waihiga refuted claims of receiving Ksh100,000.

He told the court that he was informed of being earmarked to receive Sh103,000 from the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (Nock), money that he was not aware of.

“I wish to state that we came back to Nairobi on August 26, 2016, via Ethiopian Airline and I later aired stories on Citizen TV related to the ‘Rio fiasco’,” Mwaura said adding that he is ready to cooperate with investigators.

Citizen TV anchor Waihiga Mwaura Pulse Live Kenya

Controversial Rio list

Mr Mwaura further told the court that some of the individuals who were listed under ‘Team Kenya’ were foreigners, adding that he was conversant with most athletes as well as National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) officials.

The journalist also testified that he interviewed officials who felt mistreated during the Olympics; among them Catherine Ndereba and John Anzrah.

“I wish to state that I appeared before a committee formed to investigate graft allegations during the Rio Olympics and I shared my side of the story,” he said.

Mr Mwaura was testifying in a case in which former Nock officials Pius Ochieng, Francis Kanyiri and Stephen Arap Soi have denied Sh25 million theft and fraud.

Olympics scandal

He further told the court that his travel and accommodation was catered for by his employer, adding that he never initiated talks with Nock or any other agency involved in the preparation for the Rio Olympics.

Citizen TV anchor Waihiga Mwaura Pulse Live Kenya

During the 2016 Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, athletes complained about kit going missing as well as poor travel and accommodation arrangements.

Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario, his Principal Secretary Richard Ekai, and ex-NOCK official Stephen Soi are among Kenya sports officials who have since been charged with abuse of office and misappropriation of Ksh55 million.

Mumbi Mutuko