City lawyer Donald Kipkorir publishes opinion on why some athletes go from riches to rags on retirement

Lawyer Donald B. Kipkorir (Picture Courtesy )

City lawyer Donald Kipkorir has published a detailed opinion on his social media account  why some Kenyan athletes go from riches to rags on retirement.

According to Kipkorir, many athletes have become victims of poor financial planning after earning massive money from athletics and about a small percentage of these athletes are broke few years after retiring from the track.

 "Why Our Athletes Will Always Break World Records, But Never Break the Bank!" Kipkorir wrote on his Facebook account. "In every race from 800m to the Marathon, a Kenyan will always be in top three. But as the distances grow longer, Kenyans more often than not get 1-2-3 top positions.

"But after these athletes retire, they end up wallowing in abject poverty and alcoholism, and we have never fixed it.”

In addition, Kipkorir says corruption and financial mismanagement in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts are to be blamed for athletes' woes.

 "Athletics Kenya is too busy collecting bribes and stealing sports kit to do anything. The parent Ministry of Sports is struggling to survive with an annual budget that is smaller than one illiterate supplier of air to NYS gets paid," explained Mr Kipkorir.

Kipkorir, also pointed out that absence of global brand endorsements and little support from Kenyan corporates have contributed to insignificant amount of money to athletes.

"Why our athletes fade to obscurity is ONE: absence of global brand endorsements," he said. "Usain Bolt has annual endorsements of us$33m; Kevin Durant has us$265m and LeBron has whopping us$1Billion endorsement from NIKE! Kenyan athletes can't attract even us$500,000 endorsements. “

"The worst insult is big corporates in Kenya for pay athletes paltry us$300,000 ... The collapsed NAKUMATT used to give top athletes vouchers!”

He also criticised athletes' level of education. 

“A scholarly paper by the prestigious University of Uppsala says that athletes are used because of the Brand Equity they bring to the Brand. 

"Professors Carole Ginman and Nazeem Seyed-Mohamed argued that Brands choose athletes who inter alia bring Sincerity, Excitement, Competence, Sophistication and ruggedness.

"An athlete must be good looking, articulate and scandal free.

"Our athletes, most of whom come from my neighborhood begin running when they are in Primary School. No Coach or teacher tells them to also study.

"Rather, the Primary Schools get carried away with the winnings in the field rather than in class. Of course these athletes fail their KCPE then get admitted to High Schools solely because of their running and again and without doubt fail in Form Four.

 "They then join the Police Force or Prisons. These athletes will go on to break world records because of our natural ability honed up in the mountains.

"Their English which is mandatory language of instruction in our Schools is zero. Their articulation is nil. They can only say: I run, I run, and I win! You can't be a Brand Ambassador of a Global Brand when your language of instructions stopped in Class Three!"

He also said athletes are only paid prize moneys for winning in races and not endorsements.

KENYAN ATHLETES IN ACTION

"These prize money is split by the athlete's coach, team-mates, Family, girlfriends and Athletics Kenya and Ministry of Sports officials demanding a share. The athlete is left with pittance.

"After breaking world records for many years, a Kenyan athlete retires to his village to a long life of boredom then drinking and poverty.

"And that is our sorry state. That is our Kenya. Sports isn't the only thing broken in our Country. But is the simplest to fix. Sadly, our officials have a bakery of Kalenjin athletes being produced everyday to invest in long term.

"Athletes must have presence. Must have charisma. Must be able to raise brand awareness through articulation and style. No Brand wants "Simple & Humble" Athletes. Branding is not Church Service."

Kipkorir's full opinion below: