Former Kenyan sports official Peter Kaberia has been charged with abuse of office over alleged corruption linked to the country’s failed preparations to host the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Kaberia, who served as a senior official at Kenya’s Ministry of Sport between 2016 and 2018, appeared before a court in Nairobi on Tuesday and denied the allegations. He was subsequently released on bail.
Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said it had approved corruption-related charges against Kaberia over the alleged misuse of 330 million Kenyan shillings allocated for preparations to stage the tournament.
The charges include abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of public property and financial misconduct.
Nine other individuals, including government officials and businessmen, have also been charged in connection with the case, according to the ODPP.
The proceedings follow a police investigation into the alleged misuse of funds worth approximately $1.7 million that had been set aside for preparations to host the competition.
Kenya was originally awarded the rights to stage the 2018 CHAN, a tournament reserved for players competing in their domestic leagues. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later stripped the country of hosting rights after inspectors found that only one of the four proposed stadiums was ready.
Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) alleges that Kaberia played a role in awarding a contract covering security, communications and lighting systems at the proposed tournament venues.
The anti-corruption agency alleges that an advance payment of about 330 million shillings was made to a company even though the contract had not been properly procured.
The allegations centre on preparations that ultimately failed to provide the infrastructure required for Kenya to host the competition.
Morocco was subsequently awarded the 2018 CHAN and went on to win the tournament on home soil.
Kenya eventually hosted the competition seven years later, joining Uganda and Tanzania as co-hosts of the 2025 CHAN. Matches were staged across four cities in the three East African countries.
The three nations are now preparing for another major continental assignment as co-hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kaberia and the other accused individuals will face further court proceedings as the case over the alleged misuse of public funds continues.
