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Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential hopeful Herbert Mwachiro has welcomed the increased budgetary allocation to the Sports Ministry by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani for the financial year 2020/21.

According to Mwachiro, the move sends a very strong signal on the government’s commitment to supporting local talent, a sector that has in recent weeks experienced insurmountable challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage received Sh14 billion which is a significant increase from the 2019/20 allocation which was Sh7.9 billion.

“This is expected to present the impetus to spur the recovery of the sector, in alignment with the theme of this year’s budget, “saving lives and livelihoods”.

As we prepare for a safe return to sports, we are optimistic that as a country, we will be able to successfully roll out the activities on the calendar,” said Mwachiro in a press statement yesterday.

The ministry has a busy 2021 season with several international events set to be hosted in the country as other athletes are set to compete in global competitions including the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics for which the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has presented a Sh600million budget.

Athletics Kenya probably has the busiest calendar which begins with the hosting of the World Athletics Intercontinental Tour scheduled for September 26.

Additionally, the federation is preparing to host the World Athletics Under-20 Championship, deferred from its scheduled July date due to Covid-19 pandemic and awaiting a new date allocation, while other competitions athletes have to prepare for include the Africa and World Cross-Country as well as the Africa Championships.

Kenya Motorsport Federation (KMSF) will also be hosting the Safari Rally, initially scheduled for July 2020 but now postponed to next year, as it makes a return to the World Rally Championship (WRC) after 18 years. The federation’s budget for the event stands at Sh200million.

Estimated budget

Other federations that have presented budgets to the ministry include Football Kenya Federation (FKF) with has an estimated budget of Sh800million.

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), who will have a team taking part in the Under-20 Barthes Cup as well preparing the senior teams for World Cup, have a budget of Sh500 million. 

“For football specifically, we anticipate a vibrant climate where talent development is concentrated at the grassroots level, and a level playing field is created for both male and female players.

Additionally, we anticipate a significant boost as whole economies are created through the strategic investments in sports and sporting facilities, and more careers created through the advancement of sports science,” said Mwachiro, the NOC-K chairperson for Sports and Environment Commission, added.