By Samuel Ouma Kenya Seven team players arrears have been paid and sponsorship reinstated after protest over payment dispute that has rocked the team. Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa said that sh.2.5 million ($25000) had been channeled directly to the players accounts and promised to clear the pending sh.21 million ($210000) debt to the union. Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala had terminated sh.20 million ($200000) Brand Kenya sponsorship deal with the Kenya Rugby Union after the team concealed the ‘Make It Kenya’ message on their jerseys in protest over payment while paying in Paris early this month. Head Coach Innocent Simiyu was also fired for taking part in what was termed as ‘embarrassment’ but was rehired after intervention by Mr. Echesa. Echesa also engaged his Tourism counterpart in a bid to win back the financial assistance ahead of the Rugby World Cup Sevens set for July 20-22 in San Francisco, United States. “We discussed the embarrassing Paris moments. The players realized there was a problem and tendered a written apology. After July we will call a meeting with KRU to extend partnership for three years,” the minister said. ‘Magical Kenya’ will be the brand not ‘Make It Kenya’. The government, through the two ministries commits to supporting the team in the July series and is working on a framework to confines supporting the team for the next three years. Magical Kenya will be the brand used henceforth, not Make It Kenya,” Echesa said.
