This archive report was first published on 8 June 2020.
On June 7, 2020, the Ministry of Sports and Athletics Kenya (AK) released Sh7 million to support junior runners preparing for the World Under 20 Championships, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event was initially scheduled to take place from July 7 to 12, but World Athletics (WA) has yet to announce fresh dates, and it's likely the meeting may be pushed to next year.
Approximately 100 athletes from the Iuani Under 20 Camp in Makueni County and the Machakos Athletics Development Camp, Machakos County, were the first to benefit from the donation on Sunday. The athletes received cash and foodstuff worth Sh600,000.
AK director of youth and development, Barnaba Korir, stated that the money had initially been set aside for the World Under 20 Athletics camp that was to be held in April. However, it was called off due to the curfew and lockdown caused by COVID-19.
Korir praised Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed for the move, noting that most of the junior runners come from humble backgrounds and have been struggling due to the pandemic.
The government had allocated Sh64 million for the World Under 20 training camps that were to be held during the school break. Last year, juniors in 19 camps across the country benefited.
According to Korir, the runners, who are training individually in line with government directives on social distancing, will each receive Sh3,000 and foodstuff of a similar amount.
Athletes who spoke to Nation Sport expressed their anxiety, stating that they are unsure of the new dates of the championship and that training individually is challenging.
2018 Africa U-18 1,500 meters champion Nickson Lesiyia Pariken, who is training at home in Loitoktok, Kajiado County, is concerned that the age limit could lock him out if the event is not held next year.
2019 Africa Under 18 400m hurdles fourth-place finisher Meshak Baraka, who is now training at Hoke in Sultan Hamud but based at Iuani Camp, said he has been forced to improvise hurdles.
‘I have had to engage in construction work and ferrying water to keep myself busy when I am not training,’ said Baraka, who cleared his form four last year at Tumaini, Malindi.
Martha Musai, who won javelin at the 2018 Africa Youth and silver at the 2019 Africa Under 18 Championships, said she was struggling to make ends meet in Masinga after her parents were held up in Nairobi due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
‘We have been surviving with the little they are sending,’ said Musai.
