The National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has published 161 names of the country’s delegation to this year’s Paris Olympic Games following a directive from the immediate former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba.

The contingent, which will be led by Sports Principal Secretary Eng. Peter Tum, has 81 athletes, 43 coaching and medical staff while the remaining 37 members comprises media and NOC-K representatives.

NOC-K through the Preparatory Management Committee made public details of each member’s specific role, and the move follows sustained public pressure for the government to release the full list of the delegation.

There had been concerns that the Ministry of Sports would include tens of unnecessary hangers-on on the trip at the expense of taxpayers.

NOC-K Secretary General Francis Mutuku, while giving Team Kenya’s preparedness update earlier Thursday, said no joyriders will be on the plane to Paris.

“We’re very clear, all those who will be in Paris we’ve made sure they play a crucial role directly to make Kenyan athletes perform very well this year.”

Meanwhile, Sports PS Peter Tum has backed Team Kenya to have a bumper harvest in the French capital predicting more than eight gold medals.

In a media briefing Thursday at the Ministry Headquarters on Team Kenya’s preparations for the Games, Tum said there is every reason to expect the best performance ever.

“We are ready and the team that we have prepared is the best. The preparations have been good and we will be announcing that team that we have chosen to represent us at the Paris Olympics,” said Tum.

NOC-K president Paul Tergat emphasized Tum’s point saying that everything around the preparations have gone well.

“The period between qualifying for the Olympic games and the start of the games is the most crucial for any athlete and we can confidently state that the athletes are well prepared to show up for the country while carrying the hopes and dreams of the 50 million Kenyans who will be cheering and supporting,” said Tergat.

Tergat also praised the local government in Miramas and revealed that the delegation in France is set to shift camp to Paris, as the summer fiesta draws near.

“The partnership with the city has ensured our athletes have access to world class training facilities but most importantly to acclimatize to the increasingly warm weather in France.”