MPs Accuse Sports Ministry Of Sabotage As Delays Stall 37 Academy Projects
PS Elijah Mwangi
By MKT Correspondent
A storm erupted at Bunge Tower as members of the National Assembly Sports Committee accused Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi of frustrating the construction of sports academies in 37 constituencies.
The lawmakers, led by committee chair Dan Wanyama, took issue with what they termed as “persistent and unexplained delays” in paying contractors, warning that the slow progress threatened to turn the flagship project into a series of white-elephant ventures.
Wanyama, the Webuye West MP, claimed that officials within the Ministry of Sports were engaging in “malice and deliberate sabotage,” adding that Parliament would not hesitate to push for the removal of the PS and other senior officers if the Ministry failed to release funds.
“Delay in actualising construction of the academies might cost many of us our seats in 2027,” Wanyama said. “Before we go home, we will ensure that any officer sabotaging these projects is fired.”
He questioned why the sports academy in his constituency had achieved only five per cent completion despite Parliament having allocated funds to the Ministry.
In response, PS Mwangi dismissed the allegations, insisting that payments could only be processed after verification of certificates submitted by contractors. He noted that only six certificates had been forwarded to his office so far, all undergoing review in line with public finance rules.
Mwangi attributed part of the delay to the government’s new payment system and additional compliance requirements, saying: “As an accounting officer, I cannot approve payments without validating the certificates. I will not flout procurement rules.”
But the lawmakers would have none of it. Wanyama insisted that the verification process had already been completed by contractors and told the Ministry to “stop looking at certificates and simply pay.”
Mwangi revealed that only 15 academies currently have ongoing construction, with the rest held back by funding gaps, land disputes and inadequate contractor capacity. He added that some contractors had expected upfront payments before mobilising on site, slowing progress further.
Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo accused the Ministry of awarding tenders to contractors unfamiliar to local leaders, saying MPs were sidelined from the process.
“We only found strangers on the ground. You cannot blame contractors you awarded tenders to without proper vetting,” she argued.
Yatta MP Basil Ngui said delayed payments had caused conflict between contractors and workers, many of whom had not been paid for months.
Matungulu MP Stephen Mule warned that the country risked accumulating huge pending bills and abandoned sites if the delays continued.
After lengthy deliberations, the committee directed the Ministry to settle all verified certificates within two weeks to accelerate completion of the academies. MPs vowed to maintain close oversight, stressing that the projects were vital for nurturing grassroots sports talent and empowering youth nationwide.
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