Basketball Federation expel coach Onyango over sexual exploitation allegations

Kenya Basketball Federation has moved swiftly to expel embattled coach Philip Onyango from the sport after damning allegations emerged about him sexually exploiting female players.

KBF copied the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage and other six recipients in the communique expelling Onyango. Federation president Paul Otula and Secretary General Ambrose Kisoi signed off on the decision which has to be ratified in the Annual General Meeting. 

Onyango who served as a member of the federation's Executive Committee had written to his bosses on Wednesday seeking to step aside from the four roles he held but perhaps after reading the severity of allegations and ensuing public outrage, the body decided to throw him out.

On Friday, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed expressed displeasure with the alleged sexual harassment within the basketball circles and formed a nine-member task forces to dig into the matter and come up with recommendations within thirty days. 

With pressure mounting from all quarters, the federation set up a special committee to undertake preliminary investigations with part of its recommendation being his expulsion.

"The Federation considers this matter of grace concern and in view of Kenya Police record under Occurrence Book No. 23/07/2021-0950hrs, investigations are now left for the relevant authorities mandated by law," read part of the letter signed by the Secretary General Ambrose Kisoi.

The letter continued, "In exercise of Article 12(4), the Federation hereby invokes provisions of Article 14(2) of the Kenya Basketball Constitution and states that you are hereby expelled from all basketball responsibilities and activities under the aegis of the Federation with immediate effect. The decision is valid pending ratification in the next Annual General Meeting, "