Kenya sports stakeholders' request to Ruto

From left- Former footballers Eugene Masbayi, Abdulaziz Beneah and ex-international Japhary Oyando during yesterday's Kenya Sports Stakeholders Forum in Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

A section of Kenyan sports stakeholders have urged President-elect William Ruto to appoint a Cabinet Secretary who is well versed with matters of sports.

Speaking during yesterday's sports forum in Nairobi, the stakeholders drawn from different disciplines including football, boxing and volleyball decried the deplorable state of sports in the country.

The event was graced by football administrator Abdulaziz Beneah, former Harambee Stars defender Japhary Oyando, Edward Munandi, Eugene Masbayi, Moses Otieno, John Timba, volleyball administrators Moses Wanyonyi and Maurice Okiru, boxing administrators Frank Jamin and Nixon Gitau among others.

The stakeholders feel addressing issues around sports should be a top priority for the new government.

"Sports is a multi-billion industry and, if managed well, can change the lives of thousands of young Kenyans. Of late, the Kenyan sporting scene has faced so many challenges from mismanagement, fraud, corruption, nepotism and lack of good infrastructure because of corruption," the stakeholders said in a statement.

"As you embark on the new journey of creating an all-inclusive government that will cut across the political, we in the sports industry humbly appeal to you as you will be naming your Cabinet Secretary for Sports to consider someone with proven track record in sports management, professionalism, full of integrity and passion for sports right from the grassroots level."

They continued: "Some federations are facing sanctions from international federations due to mismanagement or wrangles in leadership, with some facing corruption-related charges and theft of public resources."

"In this regard, we humbly request your government to uphold the rule of law in regard to the pending cases of individuals facing court charges.