After the disorganisation that nearly marred Kenya’s preparations for the Africa Games currently underway in Accra, Ghana, the country’s athletes have shown determination and won medals to continue a trajectory that can be traced to the advent of the competition.
Kenya has a rich history in the competition, which was previously known as the All-Africa Games. Kenya had scooped 134 gold, 144 silver and 164 bronze, ranking sixth behind Egypt with a cumulative 1,635 medals, Nigeria (1,326), South Africa (1,054), Algeria (1,022), and Tunisia (781).
The games have also over the years served as a launching pad for many of the country’s athletics stars, who proceeded to take the world by storm in other competitions, including the Olympics, Rugby Sevens, FIVB Volleyball World Championship, World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games, to name but a few.
In this year’s edition, which ends on March 23, apart from individual athletes, we look forward to strong performances from Malkia Strikers, Cheetahs, Wafalme Stars, Morans and the Hit Squad, among others, to build on the previous exploits and put the country firmly on the trajectory to beat the world at the 2024 Paris Olympics in July.
While we wish the Kenyan team well, we hope that lessons were learned from the debacle caused by differences between the Kenya National Sports Council and athletes over the quota system that was to be used in selecting representatives in various disciplines, leading to a boycott.
It is not the first time athletics managers have bungled preparations for international events or even shortchanged athletes.
As we prepare for the Paris Olympics, the Ministry of Sports must ensure that everything is put in order to avoid scandals such as what happened in the 2016 Rio Olympics or the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, United States.
It is only those who merit to represent the country who should be facilitated to travel for these competitions.
While there was no scandal in the latest debacle, it is a shame that in this day and age, a country can seek to limit the number of athletes travelling to a major international event on account of lack of funds.
