Kenyan Sports Under Scrutiny as Questions Emerge Over Judo Federation Finances

Fresh concerns have emerged from within the Kenya Judo fraternity, with players now saying payments owed to athletes and members of the technical bench have still not been made.

In a new message sent to this publication, a player who requested anonymity pleaded for continued public pressure, saying those affected are worried and suffering as they wait for payment.

“Hi bro. Kindly keep raising your voice on the issue of payment for the Judo players, technical bench. As players we are worried because payment has not been done. Please as players we are really suffering. Keep injecting please. Hide my identity,” the player said.

The latest plea adds to a growing list of complaints surrounding the Kenya Judo Federation, which has already been facing questions over athlete welfare, delayed allowances, unpaid volunteers, missing kits, failed international plans and alleged financial mismanagement.

For the players, this is no longer just an administrative delay. Many athletes depend on small jobs, casual work and sports-related facilitation to survive. When they are called into camp, competitions or federation activities, they sacrifice time, income and personal plans with the expectation that payments will be handled properly and on time.

Instead, players now say they are being left in uncertainty, with no clear explanation on when they will receive their money.

The concerns also extend to the technical bench, meaning coaches and support staff who help prepare athletes are also allegedly waiting for payment. This raises serious questions about how the federation planned, budgeted and managed its obligations around recent judo activities.

The Kenya Judo Federation should publicly explain why players and technical bench members have not been paid, when the payments will be made, how much is owed, who approved the payment schedule and whether funds meant for athlete facilitation were released.

Public sports money must first serve athletes, coaches and support staff. If people who train, compete and work on the ground are still crying for payment while officials remain silent, then the problem is not just delayed money. It is broken accountability.

Kenyan athletes are not decorations for officials to use when applying for funds. They are the reason federations exist.

The Ministry of Sports, Sports Fund, NOCK and relevant oversight agencies should urgently intervene and ensure that all pending payments owed to judo players and the technical bench are settled without further delay.

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.

Questions are mounting over the lifestyle of senior figures linked to the Kenya Judo Federation after stakeholders claimed some officials were recently seen driving high-end luxury vehicles shortly after the Africa Judo Championships hosted in Kenya.

The claims have angered athletes, volunteers and insiders who say the optics are insulting at a time when more than 240 volunteers are reportedly still waiting for payment after supporting the continental tournament.

The contrast is brutal.

On one side are volunteers who gave their time, energy and labour to help deliver a major international event. On the other side are officials allegedly enjoying comfort while the people who worked on the ground remain unpaid.

Observers now claim that the fuel costs for some of the luxury vehicles being driven by officials could have paid a meaningful number of the volunteers who are still crying for their allowances.

That is why this scandal is no longer just about accounting.

It is about morality.

It is about a sports system where athletes and volunteers sacrifice while officials allegedly benefit. It is about a federation where public money appears to move, but the people who make the sport possible are left stranded.

The Africa Judo Championships should have been a proud moment for Kenya. Hosting such a continental event should have boosted the sport, inspired young players, strengthened Kenya’s judo profile and shown that public sports funds can be used properly.

Instead, the tournament is now being followed by allegations of unpaid volunteers, questionable payments, incomplete kitting, procurement concerns, delayed athlete facilitation and claims that federation officials may have benefited more than the players and workers.

Earlier allegations claimed that members of the federation executive committee received Ksh 500,000 each from funds linked to the tournament, while volunteers remained unpaid. There were also claims of NDAs allegedly aimed at keeping internal financial arrangements quiet.

If officials were paid while volunteers were left waiting, then the public deserves to know who approved those payments, from which account, under what budget line, and why the people who worked during the event were not prioritized.

The situation becomes even more disturbing when viewed alongside the complaints from players.

Some athletes say they left small informal jobs to attend a two-week training camp, believing they would be facilitated and paid after the championships. Instead, some were allegedly left stranded because the money they expected was not for luxury, but survival.

Others say they were promised full kitting, including tracksuits, shoes and bags, but only a small number of players received incomplete kits. Meanwhile, some officials allegedly walked away with several tracksuits, multiple pairs of shoes and extra bags.

There are also questions about a failed Japan training camp after athletes allegedly processed visas but were later told tickets were not issued because ministry funds had not been released.

Put together, the pattern is damning.

Volunteers allegedly unpaid.

Athletes allegedly unpaid.

Kits allegedly missing or incomplete.

International training allegedly collapsed.

Procurement allegedly questionable.

Officials allegedly comfortable.

This is exactly why stakeholders are demanding a forensic audit of the Kenya Judo Federation, including all accounts held at Kenya Commercial Bank, Cooperative Bank or any other financial institutions linked to federation operations.

Investigators should examine whether public funds released for the Africa Judo Championships were used strictly for the event, whether procurement laws were followed, whether volunteers were budgeted for, whether athletes were fully facilitated, whether kits were properly procured and distributed, and whether any official or connected party benefited irregularly.

The Asset Recovery Agency should also take interest in any unexplained assets acquired by officials, relatives, proxies or associated businesses during the period when major sports funds were being handled.

Kenyan sports has suffered for too long because federations operate like private clubs while surviving on public money.

Athletes train in hardship. Volunteers work on promises. Young players abandon small jobs to attend camps. Parents sacrifice transport and food. Then officials appear in polished suits, big offices and luxury vehicles to speak about sports development.

That hypocrisy must end.

If public money was misused, those responsible should not only be removed from office. They should be investigated, charged, jailed where evidence supports prosecution, and any stolen assets recovered.

Because Kenyan athletes do not need speeches.

They need their money, their kits, their trips, their dignity and their future back.

The latest scandal surrounding the Kenya Judo Federation is not an isolated incident.

Stakeholders now claim the current allegations involving unpaid volunteers, delayed athlete payments, missing kits, failed international travel and questionable use of public funds fit into a much older pattern that has haunted the sport for years.

According to insiders, historical allegations against the federation continue to resurface because the same governance problems were never properly addressed.

One of the most disturbing claims dates back to November 2018, when the Government reportedly released funds to facilitate Kenya’s participation in the Commonwealth Judo Games in India.

However, according to insiders, the Kenyan team allegedly never travelled.

The communication reportedly went silent at JKIA, leaving players and stakeholders confused, while officials allegedly shared funds that had been meant to support the team’s participation.

If true, this was not merely poor planning. It was betrayal.

Young athletes train for years to represent Kenya on international platforms. Some sacrifice jobs, education, family time and personal comfort in the hope that when the country calls, officials will do their part. But when funds meant for travel are allegedly released and the team does not travel, the damage is not only financial. It destroys careers, confidence and trust.

Another disturbing incident allegedly occurred in 2018, when junior Kenyan players sent to Burundi were reportedly abandoned after funds meant for their welfare were misappropriated.

According to accounts from insiders, the young athletes were left in a difficult situation until the then Kenyan Ambassador to Burundi, Ken Vitisia, allegedly stepped in using his own resources to support them.

The promise of reimbursement reportedly never materialized.

That story, if accurate, should shame every official who has ever handled money meant for Kenyan athletes.

How do junior players travel to represent the country, only to end up abandoned because people entrusted with their welfare allegedly mismanaged funds? How does a diplomat end up rescuing athletes while federation officials remain untouched?

These historical claims now make the current Kenya Judo Federation scandal even more serious.

Because today, similar complaints are being raised again.

Athletes say they left informal jobs to attend training camp and were not paid on time. Volunteers from the Africa Judo Championships are reportedly still waiting for their allowances. Players say they were promised full kitting but only a few received incomplete kits. A planned Japan training camp allegedly collapsed despite players already processing visas. Insiders claim trips, procurement and athlete numbers may have been manipulated.

This is why investigators must not treat the current scandal as a one-week controversy.

They must go back years.

They must examine every major event, every ministry disbursement, every international trip, every failed trip, every tournament budget, every procurement process, every athlete allowance list, every bank withdrawal and every claim that public money was released but athletes never benefited.

The key questions are simple.

Did the India trip receive public funding? If yes, did the athletes travel? If they did not travel, where did the money go?

Did the Burundi juniors receive proper facilitation? If not, who was responsible for their welfare funds?

Were officials reimbursed, paid or facilitated while athletes suffered?

Were fake documents, ghost trips or inflated travel claims used to justify expenditure?

These are not rumours that should be swept aside. These are allegations that demand a forensic investigation.

Kenyan athletes are not beggars. They are not decorations for officials to use when applying for funds. They are the reason sports federations exist.

If money is released in the name of athletes, it must reach athletes.

If money is released for travel, teams must travel.

If money is released for kits, players must be kitted.

If money is released for training, players must be facilitated.

Anything else is theft from the dreams of young Kenyans.

The Kenya Judo Federation, Sports Ministry and oversight bodies owe the public a full explanation.

Because from the alleged India ghost trip to the reported abandonment of junior athletes in Burundi, the question remains the same:

How long has Kenyan judo been bleeding while officials look away?

The Kenya Judo Federation scandal is deepening, with stakeholders now claiming that the fight for transparency inside the federation did not begin today.

For years, people within the judo fraternity have allegedly raised concerns over how public funds, athlete facilitation, travel budgets, tournament money and federation resources are managed. But according to insiders, those who dare ask difficult questions about financial accountability are quickly isolated, frustrated or pushed out.

The latest allegations now paint a picture of a federation where transparency is treated as a threat and silence appears to be rewarded.

During the 2024 Annual General Meeting, federation financial statements were allegedly withheld and never properly discussed. This has raised serious concerns over whether members were allowed to properly interrogate how money received by the federation was used.

Even more worrying are claims surrounding former Treasurer David Momanyi. According to insiders, although he was voted out after the elections, he reportedly remains one of the signatories to the federation’s bank accounts.

If true, this raises serious governance questions.

How can an official who has been voted out still remain connected to federation bank accounts? Who authorized it? Who benefits from such an arrangement? And why has the Sports Ministry or relevant oversight agencies not demanded a clear explanation?

Stakeholders also claim that former Secretary General Johnson Mwadime was among the few people pushing for accountability and transparency within Kenya Judo. However, he was allegedly removed quickly after asking too many questions, in a manner insiders compare to how former president Stephen Soi was pushed out of judo leadership.

Critics now claim these leadership changes were not accidental, but part of a wider attempt to control the federation and allegedly use judo as a conduit for suspicious financial dealings.

Within sports circles, some insiders have reportedly gone as far as referring to the Kenya Judo Federation as the “Wash Wash Federation.”

That label is damaging, but the federation has only itself to blame if it continues avoiding full disclosure of its accounts, audited financial statements, procurement records, athlete payment schedules and tournament expenditure.

The scandal has now moved beyond ordinary federation politics.

Athletes are complaining. Volunteers are complaining. Insiders are complaining. Former officials are complaining. Stakeholders are demanding answers.

At the centre of these concerns is the question of public funds. Money released for sports development is not private money. It is not personal money. It is not money for federation officials to treat like private business capital.

It is money meant to develop athletes, support national teams, facilitate training camps, pay volunteers, fund international participation, buy proper kits and grow the sport.

Stakeholders are now demanding that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Asset Recovery Agency, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, Auditor-General, DCI and KRA move in and conduct a serious audit of Kenya Judo Federation finances.

Investigators should establish how much money was released to the federation, from which public agencies, for what purpose, who approved withdrawals, who signed documents, which suppliers were paid, which trips happened, which trips failed, and whether athletes benefited from the funds allocated in their name.

They should also examine whether any officials, relatives, associates or proxies acquired unexplained assets during or after major judo events funded by the public.

Because if athletes remain unpaid, volunteers remain unpaid, trips collapse, kits disappear, and federation officials appear comfortable, then Kenya does not have a sports funding problem.

It has a sports accountability problem.

And if the allegations being raised by judo stakeholders are proven true, then the Kenya Judo Federation may not just be suffering from poor leadership.

It may be sitting on one of the dirtiest sports governance scandals in the country.

Fresh complaints have emerged from players within the Kenya Judo fraternity, raising serious questions about athlete welfare, transparency, training facilitation, kitting and the conduct of officials within the Kenya Judo Federation.

The latest claims come days after concerns were raised over delayed payments following the Kenya Judo Federation championships. According to new information shared by players, the problem is deeper than unpaid allowances. Many athletes say the delays have directly affected their survival because some of them depend on judo-related activities, small jobs and facilitation money to afford rent, food, transport and basic upkeep.

Before the championships, several athletes were reportedly instructed to leave their informal jobs and report to a two-week training camp. They did so believing that they would be properly facilitated and paid on time after the event.

However, according to the complainants, some players are still stranded and frustrated because the money they were expecting was not for luxury, but for survival.

One source said many players made real sacrifices to attend camp and represent the country, only to be abandoned when it mattered most.

“Some players fully depend on judo for survival. Many athletes survive through small informal jobs just to afford rent, food, transport, and daily upkeep. Before the championships, several athletes were instructed to leave their jobs and report to a two-week training camp. They sacrificed their only source of income believing they would at least be facilitated properly and paid on time after the event.”

The source added that the delays have left some athletes in a difficult position, especially those who had paused their daily income-generating activities to attend camp.

“Up to now, some athletes are still stranded and frustrated because the money they were expecting was not for luxury, but for survival.”

Another issue now raising concern involves a planned training camp in Japan. According to the source, a group of players had already processed visas and prepared for intensive training in Japan, only to later be informed that tickets were never issued because the ministry had allegedly not released funds.

The athletes are now questioning why the process reached the visa stage without clear ticketing, funding assurance and proper communication.

“There is also the issue surrounding the Japan training camp. A group of players had already processed visas and prepared for intensive training in Japan. Later, athletes were informed that tickets were never issued because the ministry did not release funds. However, the visas remain active in passports and no proper communication or accountability was ever given to the players.”

The players now say the entire Japan camp process lacked transparency and left them confused about who was responsible, what money had been requested, what had been approved, and why the trip collapsed after visas had already been secured.

A further worrying allegation touches on the conduct of the federation treasurer during training camp at Kasarani.

According to the complainants, the official allegedly threatened to eliminate almost half of the athletes from the camp, claiming the ministry could not cater for “extra” players. Athletes reportedly found the remarks suspicious and feared that reducing player numbers could create room for manipulation of funds and athlete lists.

“Another worrying issue involves the federation treasurer. During training camp at Kasarani, he openly threatened to eliminate almost half of the athletes, saying the ministry could not cater for ‘extra’ players. Many athletes found this suspicious and feared it was creating room for possible misuse of funds and manipulation of athlete numbers.”

The players are also concerned that the same official is reportedly facing corruption-related allegations in court, yet still holds major influence within the federation.

“What makes the situation worse is that this same official is already facing corruption-related allegations in court, yet he still holds major influence within the federation. Many athletes now view him as one of the biggest threats to the future of Kenya Judo.”

The kitting situation during the recent championships has also triggered anger among athletes.

Players say they had been promised full kitting, including at least two pairs of tracksuits, shoes and bags. However, only around 30 athletes reportedly received any kitting, and even those who received kits allegedly got incomplete packages.

According to the complaints, most players only received one bag, one tracksuit and one pair of shoes, despite claims that enough supplies had been allocated for everyone.

“The kitting situation during the recent championships also raised serious concerns. Players had been promised full kitting including at least two pairs of tracksuits, shoes, and bags. However, only around 30 athletes reportedly received any kitting, and even that was incomplete.”

The most painful allegation from the players is that some officials allegedly walked away with multiple tracksuits, several pairs of shoes and extra bags while athletes remained underserved.

“Most players only received one bag, one tracksuit, and one pair of shoes despite there allegedly being enough supplies allocated for everyone. Meanwhile, some officials reportedly walked away with multiple tracksuits, several pairs of shoes, and extra bags while athletes remained underserved.”

The latest claims paint a disturbing picture of athletes who train, sacrifice and represent the country, but continue to feel neglected by those entrusted with managing the sport.

The players are now asking what the point of dedicating their lives to judo is if their welfare, basic facilitation, travel opportunities and kitting continue being handled casually.

The Kenya Judo Federation should publicly respond to these allegations and explain the status of delayed payments, the failed Japan training camp, the distribution of kits, the criteria used to select athletes for facilitation, and the role of officials accused of threatening players during camp.

Athletes deserve accountability, transparency and respect. Public funds and federation resources meant for sports development should first serve the players, not officials.

The Kenya Judo Federation is increasingly facing serious allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement, and abuse of public funds.

Officials within the federation, some now disgruntled and willing to speak out, claim that funds released by the Sports Ministry for international competitions are in some cases diverted instead of being used for athletes’ travel and participation.

According to insiders, the alleged scheme works by applying for funding for international events, securing disbursement from Government agencies, and then failing to facilitate the actual travel of players while the money is allegedly shared among officials.

Questions are now being raised about the role of senior federation officials, including current National Olympic Committee of Kenya President Shadrack Maluki, as well as other federation office bearers linked to approvals, budgeting, and documentation.

The concerns reportedly extend beyond athlete travel.

Sources allege that during the recently concluded Africa Judo Tournament hosted by Kenya, procurement procedures did not follow the Public Finance Management laws and regulations. Instead, it is claimed that procurement processes were manipulated through single sourcing and preferential allocation of services involving ticketing for international delegations, hotel accommodation, transport and car hire services.

Even more alarming are allegations that certain individuals were allegedly presented as foreign Judo Federation presidents and delegates despite reportedly being Kenyan nationals.

Sources further allege that supporting documents presented to justify expenditure — including air tickets, bank statements, and travel records — may have been falsified or manipulated.

If proven, the allegations point to a deeply entrenched system of abuse that has turned Kenyan sports administration into what critics describe as a highly profitable corruption enterprise at the expense of athletes and taxpayers.

If the Government is serious about accountability in sports, investigators should conduct a full forensic audit of the Kenya Judo Federation accounts held at Kenya Commercial Bank and Cooperative Bank and compare those records against disbursements made by the Sports Ministry and Sports Fund.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Asset Recovery Agency, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) should consider forming a joint multi-agency investigative team to comprehensively examine the federation’s financial records, procurement activities, tax compliance, and movement of public funds.

Such investigations would establish:

Whether funds released for international travel were actually used for that purpose; Whether athletes travelled as claimed; Whether procurement laws were followed; Whether supporting documentation presented to Government agencies was genuine; and Whether there was collusion between federation officials and external actors.

Kenyan athletes dedicate their lives to representing the country. Public resources meant for sports development should benefit athletes — not disappear through alleged corruption networks.

The truth can only come out through an independent investigation.

(Part 3 of our six part investigative series continues and will examine how the filthy corrupt officials are drying up public funds)