Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen has pledged to provide enhanced support for athletes with special needs.
In a statement shared via his official X account on Monday, November 11, 2024, after a meeting with the leadership of Special Olympics Kenya, Murkomen underscored the ministry’s dedication to helping these athletes achieve their full potential and cement Kenya’s position as a leading sports powerhouse.
“Sports is a powerful tool for economic empowerment as well as promoting wellness, recreation and social integration. As a ministry we are making deliberate efforts to enhance support for sportsmen and women living with special needs to ensure they achieve their full potential even as they cement our position as a sports powerhouse,” Murkomen’s statement reads in part.
Murkomen’s commitment
During the meeting, Murkomen outlined several new initiatives aimed at integrating athletes with special needs into existing programs and expanding resources to support their training and participation in local and international competitions.
“In our meeting today with the leadership of the Special Olympics Kenya, I committed to do more as a ministry to integrate people with special needs in our programs,” Murkomen stated.
Sports is a powerful tool for economic empowerment as well as promoting wellness, recreation and social integration.
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) November 11, 2024
As a ministry we are making deliberate efforts to enhance support for sportsmen and women living with special needs to ensure they achieve their full potential… pic.twitter.com/tGI44eSqhO
Special Olympics Kenya
Special Olympics Kenya is an organization that aims at creating opportunities that address the injustice, isolation, intolerance and inactivity faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Special Olympics Kenya collaborates with partners to marshal resources, implement diverse programming and act as a convening power of stakeholders to drive positive attitudinal and behavioural change towards people with intellectual disabilities in communities.
The organization was founded in 1978.
Murkomen’s commitment comes at a time when Kenya’s sports sector is experiencing significant growth, with the ministry pushing for initiatives that leverage sports as a tool for national unity and empowerment.
Over the weekend, Murkomen heaped praises at Kenya’s Women’s National Amputee Football Team, as they exited the 2024 Women’s Amputee Football World Cup in Colombia after a historic journey.
Taking to his official X account on Sunday, November 10, 2024, Murkomen stated that he was so proud of the team.
Murkomen on Kenya’s performance
The former Transport CS further stated that even though Kenya had suffered her first loss of the tournament in the Sunday morning clash against the hosts, Colombia, in the semis, the spirit and determination was inspiring.
Kenya suffered a 1-0 loss against Colombia in the match played on Sunday morning, exiting the tournament.
