Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, has called on private investors to support Kenyan athletes, highlighting the marketing potential and visibility they can provide.

Speaking in Eldoret on August 15, 2024, during the awards ceremony for athletes from the Paris Olympics, Murkomen shared his firsthand experiences of the demand for Kenyan sports apparel.

Murkomen on Team Kenya jersey

Murkomen noted that there was a notable shortage of Team Kenya jerseys due to their popularity.

“When I was in the streets of Paris with my PS, we tried to jog the last five kilometers. Your Excellency (William Ruto), when people see you in the uniform with the Kenyan flag, they stop and ask where they can buy it. In fact, there was a shortage of these uniforms in Paris,” he revealed.

He emphasized the value of investing in athlete branding, stating that Kenyan wristbands, provided by Brand Kenya, are highly sought after by top athletes worldwide, including record holders.

“If I were a private investor, I would spend my money on branding athletes. I would support them to wear caps with small branding of my company. The airtime you get is incomparable. Every athlete in the world, from American sprinters to Europeans, was wearing that Kenyan armband and posting about it on social media. Our flag is all over social media, associated with world beaters and record holders,” he added.

Murkomen conclusion

Murkomen concluded by expressing confidence that seeing athletes from other countries wearing the Kenyan flag on wristbands would pique the interest of foreigners to visit Kenya.

“This is our opportunity to market ourselves and grow Brand Kenya. I know many people will come to Kenya as tourists because of this. We have the potential to ensure that athletics and sports become a significant focus for us,” he stated.