Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has denied reports that the Kenya Women’s Amputee Football Team was stranded in Germany on their way back to the country.

The team participated in the 2024 WAFF Women’s Amputee Football World Cup, and while on their way back, videos claiming that the players were stranded in Germany spread.

Murkomen, while dismissing the video claims, explained what transpired at the Frankfurt Airport.

“My attention has been drawn to social media posts claiming that the Kenya Women’s Amputee Football Team was stranded in Frankfurt, Germany, while en route to Nairobi from Colombia.

“I would like to clarify as follows: The team comprising 12 players and 7 team officials departed Nairobi on Friday 1st November, 2024, aboard Lufthansa Airline via Frankfurt to represent Kenya at the 2024 WAFF Women’s Amputee Football World Cup competition in Colombia, where they finished an impressive fourth place overall, having topped their group in the preliminary rounds,” a statement by the CS on Wednesday, November 2024, read.

Accommodation

Murkomen said the players were accommodated at the airport as they could not seek accommodation outside the facility due to a lack of visas.

“The travel arrangements included the most convenient routing from Colombia to Nairobi via Europe, flying Lufthansa, having departed Colombia on 11th November. The team arrived in Frankfurt at 4:00 pm yesterday with a scheduled connection to Nairobi at 11:00 am today.

“During the 13-hour layover, Lufthansa made special arrangements to accommodate the team in a reserved airport lounge equipped with beds—a rare courtesy that allowed the team to rest comfortably as they awaited their flight. We extend our gratitude to Lufthansa for the care and attention accorded to the team.

“The team members did not have Schengen visas, which prevented them from staying in hotels outside the airport. Considering their special needs, Lufthansa provided suitable in-airport accommodation, which was not even extended to the accompanying officials,” he added.

The CS has termed the social media reports as misleading and that the one who took the videos violated the team’s privacy and misrepresented the situation.

“Contrary to the misleading claims circulating online, no complaints were raised by the players, managers, or accompanying ministry officials. Unfortunately, someone abused their privileged access by capturing video content without consent, violating the team’s privacy and misrepresenting the situation as abandonment,” he continued.

According to the CS, the team is currently en route to Nairobi, and the ministry is looking forward to welcoming them back at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

“We celebrate their accomplishments and commend Lufthansa for the dignified treatment accorded to our athletes – given the circumstances – during their journey home.

“The ministry takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the welfare and comfort of all our national teams taking part in local and international competitions and shall continue to ensure their full facilitation,” Murkomen’s statement concluded.