Team Kenya to Samoa Games gets Sh5.2m boost

CEO Oxygen East Africa Brian Waluchio (left) presents a sponsorship dummy cheque of Sh5.2 million to National Olympic Committee- Kenya Chairman Dr. Kipchoge Keino. The money will facilitate Team Kenya's travel to World Youth Common Wealth Games in Samoa. [PHOTO:ERICK OCHIENG']

Team Kenya to this month’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa got a shot in the arm when the Oxygen 8 East Africa Group donated Sh5.2 million before the team flew out of the country last night.

The donation, which was handed over to the National Olympic Committee - Kenya (Noc-K), will cater for the team’s expenses while in Samoa for the Games which begin this Saturday.

While thanking the Oxygen 8 East Africa Group for their donation, Noc-K Chairman Kipchoge Keino called upon other corporates to come on board and help Kenya realise her dream of participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil where the country needs a half a billion shillings to comfortably take part.

“Thank you for giving our young athletes a chance to showcase their endless potential.

Everything that we do should be for the glory of our country Kenya,” said Dr Keino, who emphasised the need for corporates to market Kenya’s sports. 

Keino advised Team Kenya to remain united while in Samoa and focus on bringing more medals home.

“Teamwork and cohesiveness will help you (athletes) win medals out there as a nation,” Keino told the athletes at a Nairobi hotel yesterday.

Oxygen 8 East Africa CEO Brian Waluchio, said he was glad that his organisation finally made an impact on the society, more so, in the sports sector. 

“Our main aim is to have a long-lasting partnership with the National Olympics Committee Kenya. We are keen to support youthful athletes who will do Kenya proud as the senior team has done in Beijing (IAAF World Championships),” said Waluchio.

Nock’s Assistant Secretary General James Chacha said: “It is unfortunate that we had to leave out other disciplines as we head for Samoa especially now that the country is focused on Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil.”

Earlier, the Oxygen 8 Group and Manu Chandaria had donated Sh15 million and  Sh1 million respectively to support the Kenya’s Road to Rio 2016 Olympics kitty. 

Kenya will be represented by only seven athletes in Samoa. Insufficient funds made it impossible for the country to send more athletes to the Commonwealth Youth Games despite federations staging fierce qualifiers to select competent athletes. 
Kenya will not have representatives in rugby, boxing, swimming and weightlifting among others despite having qualified athletes.