Recent developments have brought new information to light regarding the controversy surrounding GirlSkate Nairobi and its co-founders, Antoinette Apondi and Faith Jelimo.
The organization, which has been at the forefront of promoting skateboarding among girls in Nairobi, is now facing serious allegations of mismanagement and embezzlement of funds.
The controversy began when reports surfaced that Apondi and Jelimo had embezzled a grant of Ksh 800,000 from the Australian High Commission.
The grant was intended to support the growth of GirlSkate Nairobi by providing necessary equipment and training for young skaters.
However, a member of the community, who is actively involved in holding the co-founders accountable, has provided new details that raise even more concerns.
Contrary to earlier reports, it has been clarified that the co-founders did not use the grant funds to purchase first aid boxes as claimed.
Instead, all medical equipment associated with the organization was reportedly donated by other sources.
This revelation has raised questions about how the Ksh 800,000 was actually spent.
In addition to the misappropriated grant funds, the co-founders are accused of mishandling other donations from stakeholders and donors.
Specifically, Antoinette Apondi is accused of selling donated skateboards, which were intended to support the community, and of misusing membership fees and proceeds from merchandise sales.
There were also earlier reports that the co-founders used the grant money to purchase personal items, including iPhones.
It has now been confirmed that only one iPhone, costing Ksh 65,000, was bought by Faith Jelimo.
Both Apondi and Jelimo allegedly paid themselves over Ksh 150,000 each from the funds, further raising concerns about their management of the organization’s finances.
Moreover, safety gear provided by international donors, particularly from the Instagram account @skatingisrisky, was reportedly sold for profit instead of being distributed to the skaters as intended.
This has led to outrage among donors and the wider skateboarding community, who feel betrayed by the actions of the co-founders.
Despite these serious allegations, Apondi and Jelimo are reportedly seeking new opportunities within the Kenyan skateboarding community.
There are plans for them to train children at Shangilia Skate Park, which has raised concerns about whether they should continue to hold leadership roles in the community.
Many are calling for greater transparency and accountability within GirlSkate Nairobi.
The allegations against the co-founders have cast a shadow over the organization’s work, and there are growing demands for a full investigation into the misuse of funds and other donations.
The skateboarding community in Nairobi and beyond is watching closely to see how this controversy will be resolved.
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