Skater Kiarie Alleges ‘Sh10m Approved’ By Sports Ministry Never Reached Him

By Suleiman Mbatiah

Kenyan skater has alleged that more than Sh10 million in funds approved by the Ministry of Sports for international competitions and reimbursements was not paid to him, and is demanding records showing how the money was allocated and disbursed.

Kevin Kiarie made the claims as he challenged the ministry’s account of government support for his participation in international skating competitions, including the Africa Skating Championships in Egypt and events in Benin, Singapore and Paraguay.

Kiarie said he had formally sought details of funds approved in his name after receiving what he described as assurances from sports officials that his international assignments would be supported.

“I suspect over Ksh. 10 million shillings has been approved in my name but it never got to me including All my reimbursement to Singapore & Benin,” Kiarie said in a statement on social media.

He also disputed the ministry’s claim that he had benefited from government support for the Africa Skating Championships in Egypt. According to Kiarie, he was shown an approval for Sh2.48 million for the continental event, but said the money was never received by him.

The dispute follows Kiarie’s failure to participate in the World Skate Games ASU26 in Asunción, Paraguay, which ran from October 2 to 18, 2026. The ministry said his travel arrangements involved transit through Panama and required a transit visa.

In its on Wednesday, October 7, statement, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports said Principal Secretary for Sports Elijah Mwangi directed the Directorate of Sports to engage Kiarie after his concerns were raised through a social media video.

“Upon becoming aware of Kevin’s concerns through a video shared on social media, in which he sought the intervention of the Principal Secretary for Sports, Elijah Mwangi and the Ministry, the Principal Secretary directed the Directorate of Sports to immediately engage him, establish the circumstances surrounding his travel and visa requirements, and provide the necessary administrative support,” the ministry said in a statement signed by Head of Public Communications Juney Karisa.

The ministry said Director of Sports Dr Bernard Ouma subsequently contacted Kiarie, who explained that his booked itinerary required transit through Panama and that he needed assistance obtaining the necessary transit visa documentation.

It said Panama does not maintain a resident embassy in Kenya, requiring the matter to be handled through the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and Panamanian diplomatic channels.

The ministry further said it advised Kiarie to consider alternative travel routes that would avoid the Panama transit-visa requirement and requested an updated itinerary to facilitate further intervention.

“The itinerary initially presented by Kevin was for travel on 2nd October and had already lapsed by the time the Directorate was handling the matter. Despite subsequent follow-up, an updated itinerary, necessary to progress either the diplomatic or alternative travel intervention, was not provided by Kevin,” the ministry said.

Kiarie, however, has disputed the ministry’s explanation and said the central issue was not simply the visa process but the failure to provide the support he says had been promised.

He said he and his supporters had to raise money for his ticket and accommodation after government officials publicly indicated that his participation would be supported.

“I have noted a social media post from the cs sports @Waziri_Mvurya claiming to have supported me, another lie. Through your PS @ElijahGMwangi you came out publicly to announce supporting my participation at the world skate Games, another lie because we ended up fundraising for the ticket & Accommodation,” Kiarie said.

The ministry has maintained that international travel and visa interventions involving foreign missions must follow established government and diplomatic procedures. It said timely intervention depends on early engagement and the submission of complete and valid travel documentation.

The government also rejected the suggestion that Kiarie had received no previous support, saying he had benefited from assistance for international competitions, including the Africa Skating Championships in Egypt.

“The Ministry further maintains that Kevin has previously benefited from Government support towards his participation in international competitions, including the Africa Skating Championships in Egypt, while his cash award entitlements arising from the Benin International Challenge and Africa Skating Championships were fully paid,” the ministry said.

Kiarie has strongly disputed that account and is now demanding documentation showing the amounts approved for his participation in various competitions and where the funds were ultimately disbursed.

“I have never been supported to any of the competitions by the ministry of sports, not even the African Championship. Money was approved, but hainifikii mchezaji, where is it going??” he said.

He has also named Singapore, Benin, Egypt, China and Paraguay among events for which he says funding or reimbursements were approved but not received.

The ministry was yet, by the time of publishing this article, to address Kiarie’s allegation that more than Sh10 million had been approved in his name but was not paid to him. It also did not provide a breakdown of the amounts approved for the competitions he cited.

Kiarie said he had written to the ministry seeking a detailed account of funds approved for his events, but had not received the requested information.

“I wrote requesting to know how much was approved under my name for any of my events, in which we provided the documents, kindly give us the response,” he said.

The ministry said it remains willing to engage the athlete and the wider skating fraternity while encouraging athletes and federations to initiate discussions sufficiently early to allow administrative, financial and diplomatic processes to be completed.

“Athletes and federations are consequently encouraged to engage the Ministry sufficiently in advance to allow the necessary administrative, financial and diplomatic processes to be undertaken,” the ministry said.