OLYMPICS 2024: Kenyans In France Warn Joyriders Travelling With Team Kenya To Paris
Kenyans in France have vowed to help deport individuals back home after it was revealed that the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) had invited 11 Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to the Olympics as part of the cheering squad.
This move has sparked outrage among the Kenyan diaspora in France, who are demanding transparency and athlete priority.
In a letter dated June 20, NOCK Secretary General Francis Mutuku extended an invitation to members.
@AbabuNamwamba Kenyans in France have decided that if you bring your joyriders, they'll be at Charles de Gaulle Airport ready to count you all one-by-one and send the extras back home.
— MT (@MarigaThoithi) July 11, 2024
Stand advised. pic.twitter.com/NHfBUesrGc
“It is a great pleasure to invite the following members of the Kenya Young Members of County Assemblies Association to cheer Team Kenya at the Olympic Games, Paris-France from 26th July to 11th August 2024.”
The members are from several counties, including Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Migori, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Nakuru, and Garissa.
The invitation includes three members of the Uasin Gishu County Assembly, including the speaker and Chief Finance Officer (CFO), as well as MCAs from other counties and the CFO of Kenya Young Members of County Assemblies (KYMCA).
However, the invitation states that members will be responsible for their own air tickets, visas, accommodations, and venue tickets, with NOCK providing assistance through their hospitality partner.
The involvement of these MCAs has sparked concern, particularly given the trip’s unclear funding sources.
It is unclear whether the county assemblies will cover the expenses or if the members will bear the costs themselves.
Kenyans in France, particularly younger generations, expressed their outrage in a statement released on Thursday, July 11.
“Kenyan Gen Z and Millennials in France are outraged by the presence of non-essential staff and joyriders from Kenya in Paris,” they declared.
The group also criticized Team Kenya’s extravagant expenditure on its residence in France, citing the Ksh50 million spent on renting Kenya House for only 10 days.
They argued that this money could have been better spent on athletes, who are Kenya’s true ambassadors.
They further threatened to “frog-march these individuals back to Kenya from Charles de Gaulle Airport.”
Furthermore, the group demanded that the Ministry of Sports release a detailed budget breakdown and clarify which activities at Kenya House would directly benefit the athletes.
“Priority must be given to our athletes, not joyriders or non-essential personnel,” they asserted.
Their demands included a strong statement condemning the presence of politicians in Paris, especially given Kenya’s recent austerity measures.
“No politicians should be in Paris while Kenya is under austerity measures,” they insisted.
They also stated that there are enough Kenyans living in Europe who can cheer for the teams at no additional cost.
As of June 30, 2024, 83 Kenyan athletes had qualified for the Paris Games, competing in athletics, rugby sevens, judo, fencing, volleyball, and swimming.
According to the diaspora group, the focus should be on these athletes and providing them with the resources they need to succeed.
OLYMPICS 2024: Kenyans In France Warn Joyriders Travelling With Team Kenya To Paris
