A House Committee has been told that the Anti-doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) is in a financial crisis caused by steep budget cuts.
ADAK Chief Executive Officer Sarah Shibutse informed the Sports and Culture Committee that the Agency is in the red due to the National Treasury’s huge budget cuts.
“Operations by ADAK have been crippled due to underfunding by the National Treasury,” Shibutse told a Committee meeting chaired by Marsabit County Woman Member of Parliament Naomi Waqo.
She added: “The landlord has given us a notice because we have not paid rent since July. Internet has been disconnected. We are in a dire situation“.
Waqo further told the Committee that the Agency has been struggling to pay staff their salaries noting that the situation was getting out of hand.
As she pleaded for the Committee’s intervention, the CEO explained that the Agency’s funding through the National Treasury has been reduced to only Ksh20 million.
“The net effect of this budget cut is to cripple the Agency,” she explained.
Why Kenya risk being declared non-compliant by WADA
She also expressed fear that failure by the Agency to effectively discharge its mandate will attract the wrath of the World Anti-Dopping Authority (WADA) which will declare Kenya non-compliant.
“The ramifications of a declaration of non-compliance by WADA means that no Kenyan athlete will be eligible to participate in any international competitions,” said Shibutse.
Further, she added that Kenya will not be allowed to host any international events including but not limited to CHAN and AFCON.
ADAK is also mandated to conduct doping tests of Kenyan rugby and volleyball players set to take part in upcoming international competitions but lack of funds will hinder the process.
“We don’t have money to test national football team players who will also take part in CHAN,” she said.
The CEO told the Committee that the Agency required more than Ksh50,000 to conduct a doping test of a single player.
Ms. Shibutse noted that the inability of the Agency to operate smoothly could easily make the country lose the gains it had made so far in dealing with vice.
Taking cognizance of the potential pitfalls that may occur, the Agency is therefore pleading with the Committee to intervene and urge the National Treasury to reconsider this funding gap and reinstate the budget for the Agency to protect Kenyan athletes and other players and the country at large from facing sanctions.” ~ Sarah Shibutse, ADAK CEO.
The Committee noted with concern the financial woes the Agency has been subjected to and assured them that the matter will be addressed accordingly. It said it would seek mechanisms of having the Sports Fund disburse money to the Agency to give them a lifeline.
“The Committee has noted with concern grave matters raised by the CEO. We will seek ways of having the Sports Fund support the Agency financially,” said MP Waqo.
