An investigation is continuing into the activities of Kenyan officials at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) officials Stephen Arap Soi, Francis Paul Kinyili and Pius Ochieng have all denied charges of stealing and abuse of office after appearing before magistrates in Nairobi today.

Soi, the team's Chef de Mission at Rio 2016, is accused of five counts of taking money designed for athletes and officials at the Olympic Games. 

Vice-chairman Ochieng and secretary general Paul, meanwhile, are facing charges of fraudelently obtaining Kenyan kit from their official sponsors, Nike.

The three, who all appeared before Nairobi Millimani’s chief magistrate Daniel Ogembo today, have been freed on bail on the condition they relinquish their passports as the investigation continues.

Prosecutors have accused Soi of taking $234,000 (£180,000/€208,000) with him on a flight to Brazil without declaring it to customs officials, before the money went missing, while he is also accused of stealing $22,000 (£17,000/€19,000) in smaller amounts.

All charges were dropped yesterday against NOCK treasurer Fridah Shiroya, who is now expected to testify against the other officials as a witness.

Kenyan Sports Minister Hassan Wario formally disbanded the NOCK last month for alleged mismanagement during Rio 2016.

Police raids have taken place at the NOCK headquarters in Nairobi as the investigation into mismanagement at the OlympicGames in Rio de Janeiro continues ©Getty Images
Police raids have taken place at the NOCK headquarters in Nairobi as the investigation into mismanagement at the OlympicGames in Rio de Janeiro continues ©Getty Images

Officials were accused of key accommodation and travel mishaps, including the "mishandling of accreditation", as well as kits which allegedly never reached athletes.

All senior officials were directly accused of wrongdoing except for the body's chairman, Kipchoge Keino.

Other problems at Rio 2016 included a doping scandal in which a coach was expelled from the Olympics for impersonating an athlete, selection issues and tension between Athletics Kenya and NOCK.

Investigations are continuing despite a clear the air meeting having been held earlier this month in Lausanne between sporting and Government officials and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IOC ordered the NOCK to immediately convene an Extraordinary General Assembly in order to "address and clarify" issues which arose during the Olympic Games.

They must also "review and update the NOCK Constitution currently in force, as necessary, and submit the proposed amendments to the IOC for approval in accordance with the Olympic Charter" before agreeing on a process leading to fresh quadrennial elections.

The IOC had threatened the NOCK with suspension if the dispute is not resolved, but a decision on this is not expected to be made until the IOC Executive Board meeting in Lausanne in December.