This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
As the world slowly returns to normal, Athletics Kenya (AK) and the Ministry of Sport are taking proactive steps to ensure Kenyan athletes can compete abroad. The two bodies have confirmed they are engaging European Union embassies to facilitate the travel of Kenyan athletes to the Schengen region.
Kenya was among the countries omitted from the list of nations allowed to travel into the Schengen region when borders reopened last week. This has resulted in a significant loss of income for Kenyan athletes, who rely heavily on international competitions to earn a living.
"Our athletes have suffered a lot since the lockdown was instituted, and we don't want them to suffer further if they can get a chance to go and compete," said AK president Jackson Tuwei.
With many high-profile races taking place in the European Union, the Kenyan authorities are eager to reverse this situation and allow their athletes to compete abroad. Tuwei confirmed that a team from AK and the Ministry of Sport has approached envoys of European countries to establish a process for clearing Kenyan athletes to run in the region.
