CECAFA PRESS STATEMENT: In what is widely seen as a great relief to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) the hosts of this year's CECAFA Challenge Cup, the Kenyan government has pledged to settle all the outstanding accommodation and air ticket bills related to this tournament.

"This is to inform you that we have received the request from FKF to assist in settling these bills. We undertake to do the same immediately we identify funds within our books” reads part of the letter from the Kenyan Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts. The letter dated December 6^this signed by the Principal Secretary Mr. Patrick Omutia.

FKF contracted Liberty Group to facilitate the logistical needs of the tournament but the relationship between the two bodies had started going sour over none payment. Some teams had already fallen victims of the circumstances by denying them entry into hotels until the payment of the outstanding bills.

But with the new trend, the Kenyan government has strongly warned that all the participating teams should not be inconvenienced again for such non-payment. The letter, a copy of which has been hand delivered to CECAFA by the FKF President Mr. Sam Nyamweya is addressed to the Managing Director of Liberty Group. "It’s a big achievement and I commend the government for its kind hand”, said a visibly excited Nyamweya as he handed over the letter.

The Kenyan government will payKShs. 41,386,026in total. Of this,KShs. 8,643,026goes towards air tickets and the balance will cover accommodation costs in six hotels of West Breeze (1,836,000), Strand (3,672,000), Mvuli (2,808,000), Hill Park (14,145,600), Sandton (2,937,400) and Milele (7,344,000).

 

By Rogers Mulindwa