This archive report was first published on 19 November 2021.
Hard economic times have taken a toll on young athletes in Keringet, Nakuru County, forcing many to abandon their sport.
According to a joint consultative forum between Athletics Kenya officials and runners from the region on Thursday, upcoming athletes struggle to meet their daily needs.
Former 3,000 metres steeplechase Commonwealth Games champion, Richard Mateelong, expressed concern over the challenges faced by young athletes, saying many promising athletes have been forced to abandon the sport due to financial struggles.
"This region has promising athletics talent but the upcoming athletes get lost along the way because they lack training facilities and basic things like food which is key for good training," said Mateelong.
World Under-20 Championships 5,000m champion Benson Kiplang'at welcomed the federation's efforts to meet athletes at the grassroots level, saying it presents an opportunity for officials to listen to and solve problems young athletes face.
Road runner Nickson Koech highlighted the struggles of athletes at the grassroots level, citing issues with fare and registration fees for races.
"We normally ask friends and relatives for monetary support to enable us travel to various regions for competitions. Sometimes it takes a long time to pay back the borrowed money," said Koech.
The challenges faced by young athletes in Keringet were discussed during the second round of Athletics Kenya National Consultative Forums, which concluded in the region on Thursday.
The third round of the forums is set to start on Monday in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County.
