Sports funding reshaped

A number of sports federations in Kenya have expressed delight after President William Ruto announced a plan to decongest the country’s Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund.

Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Monday, Ruto said he was keen to see the fund solely dedicated to matters of sports as compared to the current situation where the kitty also caters for health and other infrastructure development.

“I have instructed the Ministry of Sports and the Arts that we are going to move away from crowding the Sports and Arts Fund with other requirements and that it is going solely to be dedicated to matters of sports, Arts and the Creative economy. We are going to look for alternative resources to do all the other things like building hospitals so that we can promote the young men and women in that space because they are doing a great job in profiling our country positively, hoisting our flag internationally and in giving Kenya the pride of place when they run and when they win,” president Ruto added.

Should the instructions by the President be implemented by the Sports Ministry, it will give a timely reprieve to sports federations that have struggled to cater for respective national teams in preparations and facilitation for international assignments.

Some have struggled to access the kitty, and some forced to cut their budget or forfeit competitions either locally or outside the country due to what has been noted as limited funding.

Parliamentary Sports Committee Chairperson Dan Wanyama thanked the Head of the State for the announcement.

“The President said something that really touched my heart; that the Sports Funds we get from betting should not be diverted to do something else but now go to sportsmen and women and improve their lives.”

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) Secretary General Francis Mutuku has also lauded the move of restructuring the Fund noting it was long overdue.

“I would like to applaud the President for the announcement. We have been calling for that and now it means more money for sports federations to better results in various disciplines. It also means more funds for sports facilities and the development of talent which has been a major problem in the country. I would really appreciate it if federations can receive funding on time to enable better and systematic planning so as an aid in achieving desired goals,” Mutuku told People Daily.

Athletics Kenya Nairobi Chairman Barnabas Korir also commented on the move.

“This is so special for sports. This means the resources gathered from the fund can now go to support our athletes and fasten sports infrastructural development,” Korir noted.

Korir’s remarks were echoed by Kenya Rugby Union chairman Sasha Mutai who reflected on the need for more investment in sports in the country as it is in other countries that compete with Kenya at international levels.

“This should have been the order of the Fund. However, we can smile again through the sentiments of the president if actualized.

Federations will get more government support but I also challenge them (federations) to make good use of the money when allocated”.

The National Sports Fund was established through the enactment of the Sports Act 2013.