This archive report was first published on 11 August 2019.
On August 11, 2019, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) opened an investigation into the alleged swindling of 14-year-old Kenyan gymnast Wendy Waeni by her former manager Joe Mwangi.
According to the DCI, officers from the Child Protection Unit have taken up the case and Mwangi will face legal action if he is found culpable.
Wendy Waeni, an emotional 14-year-old gymnast, shared her story with Citizen TV's Jeff Koinange, stating that she has never received any payment from Mwangi despite performing in several countries over the past five years.
She claimed that Mwangi controls her social media accounts and has denied her access to them, leading to accusations that she is being portrayed in a negative light online.
Wendy, who has performed for Presidents Kenyatta and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, said her mother sells sweets and cigarettes at night to make ends meet.
However, Mwangi has rubbished the accusations, stating that Wendy may have been coached on what to say on TV.
He dared anyone with proof that he has traveled with Wendy to come forward, but a video shared by TV47's Eugene Anangwe appears to contradict his claims, showing Mwangi and Waeni visiting Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
