Sports academies to be established in every constituency

The Government will set up sports academies in each constituency as part of a national plan to nurture talent across the country, Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi says.

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Mwangi made the revelation during a public participation forum on the proposed Sports Act and Policy that brought together stakeholders from Murang’a, Nyeri, and Kirinyaga counties.

He stated that the academies would be equipped with standard fields for athletics and football and would also support rugby, netball, and hockey, among other indoor sports.

“Already, construction of 37 sports academies is underway, and these facilities will significantly boost talent development and provide a platform for young people to explore their potential in sports,” added the PS.

In addition, he said the government is currently building 52 new stadiums across the country to improve the quality of training and competition venues.

“We are not only focusing on talent but also on where the talent is developed. Quality infrastructure is key to building successful athletes and teams,” he noted.

Further, he said the Ministry of Sports is working to streamline the operations of sports federations to ensure transparency and accountability of the funds.

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Mwangi said the federations are entrusted to support sporting activities at the grassroots. However, the funds channeled through the federation end up in people’s pockets.

Similarly, he said the new regulations will ensure there is total accountability for the funds.

Mwangi noted the government is actively channelling funds to community-based sports groups to support the organisation of tournaments and the purchase of essential playing equipment.

“We are giving money through federations across the country, and it must be used for the right purpose, which is to organise structured tournaments and to buy the required items for the players,” he added.

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He warned against mismanagement of the funds, urging those in charge to embrace transparency.

“We will not tolerate misuse of public funds meant to empower the youth; thus, everyone handling the money must account for every coin spent,” he remarked.

Rachel Osendo, a member of the task force mandated to review the Kenya Sports Act, said the team is evaluating the ecosystem around sports.

Osendo also said there is a need to review policies and legal frameworks that take into account modern and emerging issues in sports, noting that the existing sports policy was passed in 2002, while the Sports Act was enacted in 2013.

“We are interested in looking at the legislative framework and how it works, especially with the interface between the national and county government; what their roles are,” said Osendo.

She said the task taskforce is also interested in the agencies established under the law to establish whether they are working optimally and representing the interests of the sportspeople.