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Cricket Kenya (CK) is embroiled in a deepening financial scandal and boardroom wrangles, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) summoning top officials over alleged misappropriation of KSh 26.7 million.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has summoned Cricket Kenya (CK) Chairman Manoj Patel and Acting Treasurer Kennedy Obuya for questioning regarding the alleged misappropriation of KSh 26.7 million from the federation's accounts. The summons, issued by Senior Superintendent of Police Hillary Mutai of the DCI's Serious Crimes Unit, require Obuya to appear on Thursday, October 2, 2025, and Patel the following day.
This criminal investigation follows a damning finance committee report dated May 19, 2025, which highlighted significant financial irregularities within Cricket Kenya. The report revealed the existence of an undeclared Prime Bank account, opened on April 27, 2022, whose transactions, totaling approximately KSh 11.9 million between June and December 2024, lacked proper documentation. Furthermore, cheque books for this undeclared account were reportedly held personally by Chairman Patel, a direct violation of CK's financial policies.
The DCI probe intensifies an already volatile governance crisis within Cricket Kenya, characterized by a power struggle between a majority faction of the board and the chairman and acting treasurer. In June, the majority board stripped Chairman Manoj Patel of all executive authority. Subsequently, on September 24, 2025, the majority faction, comprising six of the eight board members, unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in Acting Treasurer Kennedy Obuya. The grounds for this action included abuse of office, failure to perform constitutional duties, mismanagement of resources, and bringing the sport into disrepute.
Following these votes, the board moved to block both Patel and Obuya from transacting on any Cricket Kenya bank accounts. The board also terminated a contract with an external sports promotion firm, Arena of Sports (AOS), citing severe reputational damage and alleged attempts to improperly influence board members.
The ongoing turmoil has attracted the attention of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has reportedly placed Kenya on a high-risk watch list due to continuous breaches of its membership criteria. The ICC's intervention includes warnings to Kenyan officials and plans to send a representative to meet with Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya. A potential suspension by the ICC could severely impact the sport's development in Kenya, freezing funding and barring the national team from international events.
Cricket Kenya has a history of governance challenges and financial irregularities. In 2018, the Ministry of Sports and Heritage dissolved the Cricket Kenya board and appointed an interim committee to oversee the sport and facilitate new elections, following a disastrous performance by the national team and allegations of incompetence and misappropriation of funds. A Normalisation Committee was also formed in March 2021 by then Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to address constitutional issues and prepare for elections.
A new Cricket Kenya constitution was adopted in October 2021, setting the stage for fresh elections. However, elections have faced repeated postponements and legal challenges. In April 2025, the High Court halted Cricket Kenya elections and barred any Annual General Meetings pending the determination of a suit filed by suspended Treasurer Kalpesh Solanki, who challenged his suspension.
Amidst the current crisis, former national team captain Aasif Karim has urged Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya to dissolve the federation and establish a caretaker committee to restore normalcy. Karim, who offered to chair such a committee, criticized the current leadership for creating disrepute in the sport and questioned the transparency of recent dealings, particularly concerning the unsanctioned T20 League.
The immediate focus will be on the outcomes of the DCI interrogations of Chairman Manoj Patel and Acting Treasurer Kennedy Obuya. Further developments are expected regarding the Cricket Kenya board's efforts to stabilize its financial operations and address the governance concerns raised by the ICC. The scheduled Special General Meeting (SGM) on October 19, 2025, to elect a vice-chairman, remains a critical point, although previous election attempts have been fraught with delays and legal challenges.
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