Commonwealth Games: President Uhuru Kenyatta orders federations to take good care of players ahead of club games

President Uhuru Kenyatta when he handed the flag to the Commonwealth Games bound team to Gold Coast Australia at State House Nairobi on March 27, 2018. [Courtesy]

 

Head of State asks local federations to style up the management of sports in the country.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has told sports federations in the country to treat sportsmen well ahead of major events.

Athletes have complained that they have not been paid their allowances ahead of next month’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.

The President spoke when he handed the national flag to the Kenyan team at State House Nairobi yesterday.

He urged the federations to ensure that all Kenyan sportsmen and women are well taken care of.

Uhuru’s comments comes even as sports bodies bemoaned the late disbursement of funds from the Ministry of Sports. National Olympic Committee President Paul Tergat recently attributed the delay of allowances for the Commonwealth Games-bound team to the Sports Ministry.

Uhuru said sports federations had a mandate to ensure Kenyan teams were well trained, prepared, and catered for financially when they go out to represent the country in various fields.

 “Every time we agree on what needs to be done, it should be fulfilled. I’m perturbed that this has not been happening,” he said.

The President said the country has an obligation to honour its sportsmen and women who fly the country’s flag high.

He said sports federations, including Athletics Kenya, Kenya Golf Union, Kenya Football Kenya Federation, Kenya Rugby Union, Cricket Kenya, and Kenya Hockey, had to style up and ensure that they fulfil their mandate.

 “We don’t take it for granted that it takes a lot to be where you are. It takes a lot of effort to participate in the variety of international competitions,” said the President.

President Uhuru told the team that whatever the Government had allocated in terms of allowances and rewards was their entitlement and they should not shy away from demanding it them from the federations.

 “There are things we agreed that need to be done for the rugby team, golf teams, and other sportsmen and women. As we demand that they meet our expectations we also should do our part,” he pointed out.

The President directed the Cabinet Secretary for Sports and Heritage, Rashid Echesa, and other senior ministry officials to ensure that the team was taken care of before and after the Games.

The President wished the team success as they prepare to leave for Gold Coast for the Commonwealth Games.

Echesa assured Kenyan sportsmen and women of his commitment to uplift standards as well as take care of their wellbeing.

 “I know our athletes have always been frustrated. This will no longer happen under my watch,” he assured the President and the team.

The Commonwealth Games will run between April 4 and 15 in Gold Coast, Australia. The Kenyan team of 200 includes the para-athletes team.

Apart from allowances, the athletes have also complained about lack of adequate kit to enable them to train well ahead of the club games. Tergat pleaded with the athletes to accept the kit given to them two weeks ago even though some items were missing.