NAIROBI — The bags were packed, the visas stamped, and the ceremonial tracksuits issued. But when the flight to Tokyo departed for the 2025 Summer Deaflympics last November, six accredited officials and support staff were left standing on the tarmac, victims of a silent purge that has now landed the State in the dock.

In a stinging petition filed at the High Court yesterday, the six petitioners accuse the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports of a "capricious and opaque" last-minute exclusion that they claim violated their constitutional rights to dignity and fair administrative action.

The 'Phantom' Delegation

The petitioners—Kirui Leonard Rotich, Odera Josephine Aska, Awendo Victor Omondi, Olela Lilian Anyango, Ogembo Chris Onyango, and Ogendi Collins Ocholla—paint a picture of administrative chaos. Represented by lawyer Shadrack Wambui, they argue they had a "legitimate expectation" to travel.

"The opaque, last-minute, unexplained exclusion from the Tokyo team was antithetical to the values alluded to in the Constitution," the petition reads. The group had undergone a rigorous 21-day residential training camp at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, fully funded by the taxpayer. Their accreditation was complete; their visas processed at state expense.

• The Respondents: The lawsuit names the Sports Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary, the Director of Sports, and the Attorney General.
• The Claim: Violation of Articles 10, 27, 28, 35, 47, and 50 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
• The Goal: Compensation for damages and a judicial declaration that their rights were trampled.

Budget Cuts or Bureaucratic Impunity?

The exclusion of these officials is the latest aftershock from a chaotic preparation period for the Tokyo Games, which concluded on November 26. Citing "budgetary constraints," the Ministry had already slashed the Kenyan contingent from 12 disciplines to just five—Athletics, Swimming, Women's Basketball, Men's Handball, and Golf.

Teams for women's football, volleyball, and tennis were axed entirely, a move that drew sharp criticism from the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. Committee Chair Senator Crystal Asige had previously warned that such cuts undermined the spirit of inclusion. "We must ensure that no athlete is left behind simply because of bureaucratic or financial hurdles," she noted in October.

Yet, the petitioners argue their case goes beyond mere budget trimming. They contend that removing cleared and accredited personnel after resources had already been spent on their preparation amounts to a waste of public funds and a violation of Article 10 on accountability.

A Legacy of Struggle

This lawsuit is a grim postscript to a tournament where Kenya otherwise shone, bagging 15 medals (5 Gold, 6 Silver, 4 Bronze). But the glitter of gold cannot mask the systemic rot. Earlier in 2025, the country's participation hung by a thread due to an outstanding debt of KES 18 million owed to the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), which the government only cleared in May after a suspension threat.

For the six left behind, the psychological toll is the true cost. They are asking the court to validate that in the race for administrative convenience, their dignity was the first hurdle knocked down.

"This is not just about a missed flight," a source close to the federation told Streamline News. "It is about a system that treats people with disabilities as line items on a spreadsheet, to be deleted when the math gets hard."