Let all needy athletes benefit from State funds

The Sports ministry is set to disburse the second instalment of funds to cushion vulnerable athletes against the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kenyan Premier League and Women Premier League footballers are among those expected to benefit. The bulk of mainly track athletes, hockey and basketball players among other disciplines benefitted from the first instalment.

While we salute the ministry for making the money available through the Sports Fund, we urge them to ensure all needy sports personalities benefit from this noble cause. After the first instalment, there were murmurs that not all deserving players in the teams that received the funds, benefitted.

We urge ministry officials and all those concerned to make a follow-up and ensure everyone who is supposed to get help does so.

It is possible that some doggy officials might take advantage to deny the athletes what is rightfully theirs and the ministry should ensure this does not happen.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed could be thinking that all the needy athletes have received the funds, but unfortunately that is not the case.

So, as she gives the second installment, we urge her to ask for a report from officials of the federations to be able to know who has benefited and who has not.

She should also try and extend the same to some retired athletes who unfortunately are also suffering from the effects of the pandemic.