PS Kaberia asks for budgets: National teams will be the biggest beneficiaries

PS Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts Kirimi Kaberia (left) congratulates the newly elected National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) President Paul Tergat during NOCK elections on Sept 29, 2017. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Sports Secretary says government is ready to offer support to federations.

The government has directed all sports federations to submit their budgets and calendar of events for 2018.

“The government intends to support all active federations financially both locally and internationally and this can only be realised with proper planning,” Sports Principal Secretary Kirimi Kaberia has said.

“We have directed all federations to submit their budgets and calendar of events for 2018 before the end of January if they expect support from us,” added the PS.

Kaberia said the government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kenya Airways to be the national carrier for national teams.

“For proper planning, Kenya Airways have asked to be informed of any national team travel 60 days before the travel date and that is why we must have both budgets and calendars of events for easy facilitation of traveling plans," Kaberia said.

The PS spoke at Sun Africa Nyali International Beach Resort, Mombasa when he met the national Tong Il Moo Doo team that won the Mombasa Open international tournament last September.

The team led by the Kenya Tong-Il Moo-Doo Federation Chairman Clarence Mwakio retained the global event last year for the fifth year running.

Beside athletics, Kaberia said Kenya has been doing well in other sports and committed government’s support to all sports federations.

He said the government will honour athletes. “We intend to appreciate the efforts put in by athletes in 2017,” Kaberia said.

“We shall give out Sh300,000, Sh200,000 and Sh100,000 to all those who won gold, silver and bronze respectively in all major international events last year. This money will be handed out this month,” he said.

On the stalled Mombasa County Stadium, Kaberia said: "As government, we imported the artificial tartan to be laid at the stadium and pledged to work closely with Mombasa County government."

On the high tax on betting campanies, Kaberia said the government will hold an all-inclusive meeting with all stakeholders to re-visit the issue.