The recent controversy surrounding Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum and the allocation of over KSh 1 billion for international consultancy services has sparked widespread public outrage.
According to the post on X by Maverick Aoko as obtained by leaked.co.ke, the funds were reportedly spent on consultancies related to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
In addition, KSh 352 million was used for regional consultancies, further inflaming concerns about the misuse of public funds.
Despite this huge expenditure, there has been minimal visible progress on the sports facilities and stadia that were supposed to benefit from these consultancy contracts.
This has raised questions from both legislators and the public about whether the money was spent efficiently or if it was a cover for financial mismanagement.
During a Parliamentary session, Tum admitted to hiring private consultants but argued that the ministry was now reviewing and terminating some of these contracts.
Concerns remain over why the ministry opted for external consultants instead of utilizing in-house government expertise from departments such as Public Works.
This scandal has also highlighted a broader issue within the Ministry of Sports and other governmental bodies.
Despite clear directives from President William Ruto to halt the engagement of private consultants, Tum and other officials seemingly ignored this mandate, continuing to spend massive amounts on consultancy services.
This has led to calls for greater transparency and accountability within the government, especially as the nation grapples with a tough economic environment.
Many are questioning whether the consultancies were even necessary, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had already provided consultants for the AFCON co-hosting nations.
This raises the suspicion that the ministry might have inflated costs or engaged in dubious financial practices.
The slow progress on promised projects, such as the Talanta Stadium and other sports academies, only fuels these concerns.
The scandal has left many Kenyans wondering, particularly given the growing youth unemployment and the hope that sports development would provide opportunities for the younger generation.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the public will demand answers and reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.
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