Tourism CS Najib Balala has cancelled the Ksh20 million sponsorship for the Rugby Seven’s Shujaa team. He said that the the team embarrassed Kenya in Paris after they blocked the brand Kenya logo
The team blocked the brand Kenya logo while playing during the paris 7s circuit in protest of delayed payments. They said that the brand Kenya had failed to release their allowances for that circuit.
State house was furious and had asked the sports ministry to investigate why the Kenya Rugby Union had failed to release the Ksh4 million to the players.
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The Kenya Rugby union on their part said that the money that they had received went to solve the immediate needs which were players allowances, air fare and accommodation for the team for the Paris and London Legs. They apologized to Brand Kenya for the embarrassment.
“The sponsorship had an element of cash to be paid directly to the players for direct promotion of Brand Kenya. Brand Kenya have already submitted Ksh4 million as part payment of the sponsorship as per the contract. This has gone into funding more priority needs of the team such as player allowances for the London and Paris legs, accommodation and airfare for the extra management carried on the tour and outstanding training allowances. The incident is highly regretted and we unreservedly apologize to Brand Kenya for the embarrassment this has caused and are working to sort out the situation in Paris,” the statement fro the KRU read in part.
The Kenya Rugby Union had signed an eight month deal with brand Kenya, the deal would ensure that the players wear jerseys
Carrying positive messages about Kenya around the world as they go about their business in various local and international tournaments. The deal will also see the various Kenya rugby teams wear shirts bearing ‘Make it Kenya’ on the front-side.
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