Fresh allegations have emerged in the widening Kenya Judo Federation scandal, with sources within judo circles claiming that federation president Shadrack Maluki has repeatedly projected confidence that he is politically and institutionally protected from accountability.
According to sources who spoke to this publication, Maluki has allegedly told people around the sport that he “can’t be touched” and “won’t be touched,” even as questions continue to mount over governance, procurement, athlete welfare, unpaid allowances, and the management of public resources within the Kenya Judo Federation and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.
The sources claim Maluki has boasted of extensive connections within government, law enforcement, and public institutions, allegedly suggesting that ongoing scrutiny, complaints from athletes, and demands for accountability will eventually fade away.
One source familiar with the internal conversations claimed Maluki has invoked his past service and training background, allegedly stating that while he was at Kiganjo, he trained many of the current senior officers and that they are his juniors in service.
If true, such remarks raise serious questions about whether officials entrusted with public sports resources believe they are answerable to athletes, taxpayers, and oversight bodies — or whether they consider themselves shielded by old networks of influence.
The allegations come at a time when pressure is rising around both the Kenya Judo Federation and NOCK over the use of resources meant for athlete development, international competition, travel, accommodation, uniforms, allowances, and logistical support.
Of particular concern are fresh questions surrounding Team Kenya’s participation at the 2025 Africa Youth Games in Angola. Parents, athletes, and stakeholders have raised concerns over accommodation standards, athlete welfare, procurement processes, and the overall management of funds allocated to support the delegation.
Sources further claim that, as has become common in Kenyan sports scandals, some athletes and officials who travelled with the team have not been paid their allowances.
Several athletes and volunteers who reached out to this publication questioned whether resources allocated for judo activities were used in the best interests of the sport and the athletes. They are now calling for a comprehensive review of all expenditure linked to travel, accommodation, uniforms, allowances, logistics, procurement, and delegation support connected to Kenya Judo Federation activities.
The spotlight has also fallen on other individuals linked to the administration of Kenyan judo, including Duncan Chemiryo and David Busolo. Stakeholders argue that questions surrounding governance and financial accountability should not be treated as internal federation politics but as matters requiring independent examination by the relevant authorities.
This latest development adds another layer to a scandal that has already seen athletes, volunteers, insiders, and stakeholders raise concerns over unpaid allowances, missing or incomplete kits, failed international travel plans, questionable procurement, alleged ghost trips, and demands for a forensic audit of federation finances.
For athletes and volunteers, the issue is no longer just delayed payment.
It is about dignity.
It is about whether young Kenyans can trust sports federations with their careers, welfare, and future.
It is about whether public money released in the name of athletes actually reaches athletes.
Some of the athletes and volunteers who claim to have been mistreated now say they are preparing to push for change within the federation. They allege that they are reaching out to new leadership figures, including former officials based abroad, to help them reorganize the sport and challenge the current order.
“We have good people outside the country, in America and France, who can help us change the sport,” one source said.
The push for reform reflects growing frustration among people who believe Kenyan judo has been captured by a small circle of officials while athletes continue to suffer.
As scrutiny intensifies, pressure is mounting on the Sports Ministry to explain how resources intended for sports development are monitored once they are released to federations. Athletes and stakeholders are demanding answers on whether existing oversight mechanisms are strong enough to detect misuse, prevent irregular procurement, and protect athletes from exploitation.
The Ministry must also answer a broader question: how many complaints must athletes raise before action is taken?
If volunteers remain unpaid, athletes are poorly facilitated, trips collapse, kits disappear, allowances delay, and officials continue operating without full transparency, then the problem is no longer administrative weakness.
It becomes a governance crisis.
It becomes a public finance issue.
It becomes a test of whether Kenyan sports federations are accountable institutions or private clubs funded by taxpayers.
This publication is continuing to review documents, correspondence, procurement records, and testimonies from sources both within Kenya and abroad. Additional information is being assessed and verified as part of this ongoing investigative series.
All individuals named in this report, including Shadrack Maluki, Duncan Chemiryo, David Busolo, the Kenya Judo Federation, NOCK, and any relevant public institution, are entitled to respond to the issues raised. Any response received will be published in full and fairly reflected.
Part 5 of this investigative series will examine documentary evidence, governance concerns, and growing calls for investigations by relevant oversight and enforcement agencies.