Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala on Thursday ordered the cancellation of a Sh20 million sponsorship awarded to national rugby team - Kenya Sevens.
Najib said that this was after the rugby players badly embarrassed Kenya at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Paris
During the games, the Kenya Sevens staged a protest against Brand Kenya in two games by blocking the ‘Make it Kenya’ message on their jerseys. However, they did not conceal the name of their other sponsors Bidco at the back of their jerseys.
The players complained that the Government had not released payments promised to them during the Paris Seven matches.
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The act drew the attention of the Government and the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU). KRU chairman Richard Omwela said that the person who incited the player would be punished while Chief of Staff and Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Nzioka Waita called for an investigation over the claims of non-payment.
“KRU should take notice that there is a new law in place regulating sports federations. We can’t allow this sort of embarrassment at the international stage.
“KRU should take notice that there is a new law in place regulating sports federations. We can’t allow this sort of embarrassment at the international stage,” Waita said.
On Thursday, Mr. Balala blamed the rugby players for humiliating Kenya on an international platform adding that Brand Kenya had paid KRU.
According to Balala KRU was responsible for the delay in paying Kenya Sevens.