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By Fidialice Muthike

Kenya has continued to perform well in field of athletics. Many, particularly in the developed world, are asking themselves what Kenya is doing different to run away with the victories, one after another. 

It would be wrong to attribute this success to the government, and more so the State Department for Sports Development and the National Sports Fund. 

Instead, it is the undying commitment of our athletes, high discipline, focus on talent development and patriotism to run for their country that has put Kenya on the global map. 

Despite many challenges, the resilience of our athletes like Eliud Kipchoge, who on Saturday made history as the first person to run the marathon under two hours, has made them to rise up to beat world records. 

Many times, our sports men and women have been spotted in airports stranded with no money to pay for transport or accommodation as they travel to represent the country in international events. 

Ironically, during the FIFA World Cup Games held in Russia in July 2018 the State Department for Sports Development spent money catering for MPs’ welfare yet their expenses were supposed to be covered by the Parliamentary Service Commission’s budget. 

In addition, no one has been brought to book for the RIO scandal that hit the headlines in 2016 where Kenyan athletes were forced to spend the night in dilapidated conditions after the closure of the Olympic village. 

The challenges faced by our athletes can only be attributed to lack of goodwill from the government to challenge the status quo, selfish interests by both elected leaders and State appointees and chronic corruption in sports agencies. 

Created by the Sports Act 2013, the Sports Fund, is a State corporation mandated with disbursing of funds for the development of sports and recreation. 

Among other things, the fund is supposed to create and maintain a pool of skilled and globally competitive staff. If well managed, the fund could be used in providing incentives to our athletes to encourage them to perform better and also discourage those that would want to change citizenship and run for other countries which are willing to pay them better.

People who have dedicated time, resources and made huge sacrifices to represent Kenya in sports events should be well compensated and not left to live from hand to mouth as it is the case with many sports heroes.  

In many cases, the sports icons are forgotten and left to die in poverty. 

The few that are successful, like Kipchoge, have tried to fight for the welfare of their colleagues with little or no success.

If Kenya wants to sustain its glory in world athletics, there is an urgent need  to overhaul of the sports management with the intention of placing people of high integrity to manage sports bodies.

We need disciplined people who are committed to taking care of the welfare of all sports men and women managing sports agencies, not mere political appointees who have little interest in improving sports and sports people. 

This can only be achieved through goodwill from the highest positions in the government.

— The writer heads the Research Department at Transparency International Kenya