Kenyan football is back as CS Amina issues new guidelines

Cabinet secretary for sports, Amina Mohamed addresses members of WRC Safari Rally Kenya at Flamingo Beach Hotel in Mombasa. She said the Government through her ministry will put more funds in motorsports. 24th October 2020. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

Kenya Premier League games have been given the green-light to resume tomorrow after the sports ministry lifted a ban, a welcome relief for the sporting community following a seven-month hiatus.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed on Friday reviewed the guidelines for the resumption of sporting activities in the country.

Under the new arrangement, CS Amina directs that all contact sports considered low risk to be allowed to resume under strict Covid-19 protocols.

CS Sports Amina Mohamed and International Automobile Federation president Jean Todt (left) is assisted by a Safari Rally official planting a tree to mark the legacy project at Kasarani Stadium. Nov 24, 2020. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

This will essentially affect football, hurling, hockey, netball, basketball, handball, baseball, softball, rope jump, billiards, goalball and modern pentathlon.

Some of the non-contact sports set for resumption are athletics, volleyball, cricket, bowling, weightlifting, cycling, table tennis, lawn tennis, shooting and golf.

However, high-risk contact sports including American football, boxing and rugby will remain suspended, except for national teams preparing for competitions.

Other disciplines that will be affected by this directive include judo, karate, wrestling, chess, scrabble and both amputee and skating football.

"All contact sports (low-risk) may resume their Premier (Tier 1) league and Team Kenya activities. All other activities related to lower-level leagues remain suspended," CS Amina said in a statement seen by Standard Sports.

The CS has also extended a ban on spectators in stadiums.

"No spectators shall be allowed at any sporting event. All the Federations must ensure compliance to all the provided. The Ministry will continue monitoring compliance with the guidelines and revise them from time to time in the best interest of the health and safety of all our stakeholders," read the statement.

Sporting activities in Kenya were halted in March as the nation took steps to stop the spread of Covid-19 that has wreaked havoc around the world.