5 crucial tasks for new Sports minister Amina Mohamed

Sports CS Amina Mohamed. [Courtesy]

The sacking of Rashid Echesa as the Cabinet secretary (CS) for the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage on Friday did not come as a surprise. His term in office did not achieve much for sports.

What has caused consternation in the sporting fraternity is the entry of past Foreign Affairs and immediate former Education CS Amina Chawahir Mohamed Jibril, as Echesa’s successor.

A career lawyer and diplomat, Amina has not covered herself in glory at her previous Cabinet postings in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, with many viewing her new post as a soft landing for the CS who appears to have the ear and confidence of the Head of State.

After her flip-flopping over curriculum change in the Education ministry, many sports pundits feel that Amina might not have a smooth ride in the Sports ministry.

“I congratulate my colleague in the sector and the Exams Council chairman Prof. George Magoha on his nomination to the Education ministry.

“I thank all the sector players and development partners for their tremendous support throughout my headship at the ministry,” Amina tweeted in her farewell message.

It did not take long for micro-blogging sites to jump into the debate, with most social media users slamming the transfer of Amina from Education to the Sports docket.

“Amina Mohamed should be going home too. These people don’t value sports,” Zax Oguda posted on Twitter under the trending #CabinetReshuffle hashtag in one of the many comments against her appointment.

While Echesa could at least lay claim to some sporting background as a former boxer, Amina comes to her new office with no known experience. With time running out for the Uhuru government to deliver on campaign pledges to sports, the new CS has little time to deliver.

Here are the five things Amina must work on in her new ministry to reclaim some of the lost confidence among sportspersons in the current Government:

 

Deliver the long overdue five new stadiums

One of the biggest sticks used to whip the Jubilee government whenever sports is mentioned is their pre-2013 General Election campaign promise to construct five new world-class stadiums.

Seven years and deep into the second and final term of President Uhuru, the second biggest stadium in the country, Nyayo National in Nairobi, remains closed, while no foundation has been laid for any of the five new facilities promised.

Every once in a while, county governments unveil ambitious plans to erect world-class sporting facilities, the latest one being by Mombasa Governor, Ali Hassan Joho. Similar projects that were supposed to be partnership ventures between the national and county administrations in Meru (Kinoru), Kakamega (Bukhungu), Eldoret (Dr Kipchoge Keino) and Bomet, among others, are yet to be completed.

Currently, the country’s top two divisions of football are being played in derelict facilities. This is affecting the quality of the game, besides posing a huge injury risk to players.

The sooner Amina delivers on the Jubilee promise and gets planned renovation works in existing facilities off the ground, the sooner she will prove her critics wrong.

 

Improve the welfare of sporting talent in the country

The resonating concern in many local federations is the poor welfare of their affiliates’ sportspersons.

Every week, there are media reports about players either boycotting training, or protesting over non-payment of allowances, bonuses and salaries.

Many a sporting hero from the past is living in abject poverty, with the recent demise of the country’s pioneering Olympian, Nyandika Maiyoro, being the latest tragic example.

For decades, the non-existence of State guidelines regulating the welfare of sporting talent has provided a platform for greedy officials to rip off those under their care.

The architects of the stinking Rio 2016 scandal, that sucked in Amina’s predecessor Dr Hassan Wario, are still waiting for justice.

For Amina to leave a lasting impression in her new docket, she needs to take the lead in formulating and implementing government policy that will safeguard the welfare of long-suffering sporting talent.

This includes, but not limited to, enforcing prompt payment of dues, pension schemes and medical cover, like other sectors of the economy.

 

Spearhead preparations for Nairobi 2020 World Under 20 Championships

The last act for her predecessor as CS in the Sports ministry was the gazettement of the Local Organising Committee for the Nairobi 2020 IAAF World Under 20 Championships.

Following the successful hosting of the Under 17 version of the global track and field showpiece in 2017, Kenya was awarded the rights to host the next Under 20 edition, and with just over a year to go, much needs to be done to ensure the country is ready to welcome the world for the event.

One of the biggest impediments to previous events of such nature hosted by Kenya has been the late release of funds by the Government, meaning organisers have always been faced with a last-minute rush to get ready.

For Nairobi 2020, Amina should ensure the Sh1.5 billion budget set aside for the event is released promptly, so that preparations can be completed in good time to audit the entire process and take action against anyone found to have misappropriated the resources.

Kenyans are yet to establish what happened to their funds during the hosting of the 2007 IAAF World Cross, 2010 Africa Athletics Championships and Nairobi 2017, with claims of embezzlement that was made possible by the scramble to get ready following the late release of funds, throwing accountability out of the window.

 

Enforce term limits for federation officials

In 2013, the Sports Act was passed, providing that among other things; officials be restricted to two terms in office to prevent establishment of dynasties that have been blamed for corruption and mismanagement in the sector.

However, the dynasties are striking back, with a number of federations failing to comply with the Sports Act, or sitting officials seeking to circumvent the rules by seeking amendments to the requirement restricting their terms of office.

Athletics Kenya (AK), for instance, has not held elections since 2012, with the current president, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei, serving by decree.

In November 2017, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss, Nick Mwendwa, abandoned plans to extend his two-term limit to three after the proposal attracted backlash.

Amina should ensure that all local sporting governing bodies are fully compliant with the Act.

 

Settle outstanding State reward monies

Over a decade ago, Uhuru’s predecessor, Mwai Kibaki, launched a scheme to reward athletes and teams that excel in the international arena.

Recently, the Principal Secretary in the Sports ministry, fellow diplomat Kirimi Kaberia, went on record saying they needed over Sh256 million to settle outstanding dues under the scheme; some traced back to the Daegu 2011 World Championships in Athletics in South Korea.

Amina will endear herself to these long-suffering sportspersons who gave their all to fly their nation’s flag high in the international arena, if she can resolve this issue within the shortest time possible.

Kenyans online further reminded Amina that one of her first tasks should be securing the release of the Sh50 million promised to Harambee Stars for qualifying to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations by Deputy President William Ruto.