Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday revealed that their was no problem when Kenyan athletes choose to run for other countries
Speaking at Moi Stadium in Kasarani while flagging off Kenya’s U-20 team looking to compete at the World Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru, the CS noted that athletes who adopt a second citizenship should not be ostracized.
On the contrary, he argued that the athletes should be viewed as part of the country’s labour export strategy.
“We will allow them to run for other countries, but we will beat them on the track,” the CS said.
Murkomen also assured that under his tenure, there will be no more cases of athletes sleeping in airports due to lack of funding and negligence.
This comes in the backdrop of recent incidents involving Kenyan athletes who have been forced to endure poor conditions such as sleeping in airports, and using firewood to cook in camps.
"We will ensure that all teams we support receive adequate funding. The days of our sportsmen sleeping in airports are over," he promised.
The CS further reiterate on the government's commitment to providing adequate support for all Kenyan sports teams. This, he explained, will extend to construction of stadia, provisions for sports science and necessary equipment.
He noted that more sporting facilities for schools including academies will be developed across the country during his stint at the helm of the Sports Ministry.
“We will continue to establish more sports academies across the country for all sports disciplines," he said.
He revealed plans of aligning talent development with education where the government will come up with a system so that talent development will be integrated within the schooling system.
"We will formalise our engagement between sports and education to ensure that talent development is well-integrated with the schooling system." Murkomen said.
Murkomen also promised to give a personal donation of Ksh100,000 for each medalist from the World U-20 Championships adding that the government will also give rewards for the athletes, with gold medalists getting Ksh 500,000, Ksh 350,000 for silver, and Ksh 150,000 for bronze.
The World Championships will feature six categories, including 800m, 3000m, 5000m, 1500m, the 3000m steeplechase, and 10000m in the walking race.
This comes hours after World Athletics Council imposed a decisive ban on Bahrain from recruiting athletes until 2027.
Bahrain has in the past been buying athletes particularly from Kenya in attempt to build its image in the sporting industry. In its latest conquest, Winfred Yavi, a Kenyan who obtained Bahrain nationality, won the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The directive by the World Athletics Council means that Bahrain will now be forced to focus on nurturing its own home grown athletes.
