This archive report was first published on 9 June 2020.
On June 7, 2020, the Ministry of Sports and Athletics Kenya (AK) released Sh7 million to support junior runners preparing for the postponed World Under 20 Championships.
The event, initially scheduled for July 7 to 12, was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. World Athletics has yet to announce fresh dates, and it is likely that the meeting will be pushed to next year.
Approximately 100 athletes from the Iuani Under 20 Camp in Makueni County and the Machakos Athletics Development Camp in Machakos County were the first to benefit from the donation on Sunday. The athletes received cash and foodstuff worth Sh600,000.
AK's director of youth and development, Barnaba Korir, stated that the money was initially set aside for the World Under 20 Athletics camp, which 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 her initiative. He noted that most of the junior runners come from humble backgrounds and have been struggling due to the virus.
The government had allocated Sh64 million for the World Under 20 training camps, which 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.
Some athletes expressed their anxiety, citing the uncertainty surrounding the new dates of the championship. They also mentioned the challenges of training individually, which they find difficult.
For instance, Nickson Lesiyia Pariken, the 2018 Africa U-18 1,500 meters champion, is worried that the age limit could lock him out if the event is not held next year. He is currently training at home in Loitoktok, Kajiado County.
Meshak Baraka, the 2019 Africa Under 18 400m hurdles fourth-place finisher, who is now training at Hoke in Sultan Hamud but based at Iuani Camp, has been forced to improvise hurdles. He has also been engaging in construction work and ferrying water to keep himself busy when not training.
Martha Musai, who won the javelin at the 2018 Africa Youth and silver at the 2019 Africa Under 18 Championships, is struggling to make ends meet in Masinga. Her parents were held up in Nairobi due to the Covid-19 lockdown, and they have been surviving on the little money they send.
