Sports fans and stakeholders in Kenya are pushing for significant reforms to transform the sports sector into a thriving industry. A taskforce, formed in 2024 to revise the Sports Act 2013 and develop a national sports policy, has been gathering public input across the country, with a draft report expected by late July.
During sessions in Eldoret on Tuesday and Wednesday, stakeholders highlighted critical issues, including the need for stricter anti-doping measures, increased funding for sports tourism, a framework for commercialization, and the removal of federation leaders overstaying their terms. They also noted challenges like the absence of clear metrics to track sports development, overlapping roles between county and national governments, and the dominance of cartels stifling progress.
Stakeholders called for incentives to attract corporate investment in sports and proposed gender parity in sports administration and prize money. Retired athlete Leah Malot suggested that leadership roles, such as Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary for Sports, should reflect gender balance. She also advocated for special recognition for veteran athletes, master’s sports, and infrastructure like training pavements along roads and free access to forests for athletes. Malot further emphasized developing sports tourism by creating recreational facilities in destinations like Maasai Mara and Eldoret to boost revenue.
Duncan Kibet, another retired athlete, stressed that sports management should be led by former athletes like Faith Kipyegon and proposed funding schools to nurture talent under the Competency-Based Curriculum. He also urged the establishment of sports academies in all 47 counties and clear timelines for completing stalled projects like Kamariny and Kipchoge Keino stadiums.
Benjamin Omondi, a skater from Uasin Gishu, called for sponsorships to support advanced training for coaches and technical officials. Football enthusiast Lawrence Kiptai from Baringo suggested using sports, particularly football, to promote peace in regions affected by banditry and cattle rustling, proposing investments in sports facilities as an alternative to violence.
Julius Kiptoo, an Iten-based coach, emphasized the need for qualified coaches in schools and proper sports infrastructure, like running tracks, to develop talent. Taskforce member Martin Keino noted that leadership in sports federations and marketing Kenya as a sports destination were recurring themes.
The taskforce continued collecting views in Kakamega, Nanyuki, and Kisumu on Thursday, with final sessions planned for Kitale and Isiolo on Friday. The input will shape a comprehensive policy to address Kenya’s sports sector challenges.
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