Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has thrown his weight behind the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2024, describing it as a timely intervention that could revitalise Kenya’s sporting ecosystem and unlock the vast, untapped potential of the country’s youth. 

The Bill, tabled by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, seeks to amend the current Sports Act by establishing County Sports Association Funds. 

Under the proposed law, each county would allocate at least one per cent of its revenue to these funds, which could also be boosted by grants, loans and donations from both public and private sources. 

“This is a very progressive piece of legislation which we should all support,” Senator Osotsi declared, emphasising the global economic value of sports. 

“If sports is properly funded and harnessed, it can be one of the key ways to generate revenue for this country. Other nations have made significant progress through deliberate investment in sports.” 

Osotsi, referencing his legislative experience and research, lamented the chronic underfunding of county-level sports initiatives. 

Using his home county of Vihiga as an example, where the sports fund receives less than Sh10 million annually, he noted that such minimal allocations are incapable of producing meaningful impact. 

He further urged Senator Sifuna to amend the Bill to allow funding from the national government’s shareable revenue, noting that sports is a shared function between both levels of government. 

“Counties develop the facilities and activities, but the national government promotes the sport. If that is the case, then they should also share the funding,” he argued. 

In a scathing critique of previous administrations, Senator Osotsi accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government of diverting funds initially earmarked for sports development. 

He cited the redirection of Sh10 billion from the National Sports Fund — originally established under President Mwai Kibaki, to the Universal Health Care (UHC) programme. 

“The Kibaki Government had a vision. They established the Sports Act in 2013 to promote youth and sports as a pillar of Vision 2030,” said Osotsi. 

“But when President Uhuru’s administration saw the idle billions, they shifted focus. Only five per cent of that fund ended up supporting sports.” 

He proposed a full parliamentary inquiry into the management of the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund, questioning why it remains under the National Treasury rather than the Ministry of Sports. 

“How can the PS for Treasury administer a fund meant for sports?” he asked. “It’s time we brought that fund back where it belongs.” 

Osotsi’s remarks painted a picture of promise hijacked by mismanagement, pointing to stalled projects like the Joe Kadenge Sports Academy in his county, which was launched with fanfare but has since remained dormant. 

He called on the Senate Sports Committee and the Committee on Delegated Legislation to investigate how the sports fund is being administered, who benefits from it, and how effectively it is being utilised. 

The senator reaffirmed his full support for the amendment and urged fellow lawmakers to rally behind it, not only to honour the legacy of President Kibaki but to build a sustainable future where sports can thrive as both a profession and an economic driver. 

“This is not just a Bill. It’s a mission to rescue and restore the dreams of our young people,” said Osotsi. “If we take this step now, we’ll look back years from today and know we did the right thing for Kenya.”