This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
Kenyan Sportsmen Cry Out Against Government Neglect ¶
Kenyan sportsmen have been flying the country's flag high in international competitions, but behind the scenes, they face numerous challenges, including government neglect.
Speaking to the press, Philadelphia Olando, the captain of the Kenyan Lionesses rugby team, expressed her disappointment with the government's lack of support. The team has qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but they have gone without allowances since March.
'We have gone without allowances from March this year. And again we can't train for a month and people expect us to perform better than countries such as South Africa who train all year,' Olando said.
The situation is not unique to the Kenyan Lionesses. Many sporting personalities in the country face similar challenges, including poor training grounds and inadequate facilities. Brigid Kosgei, the world marathon record holder, trains on rugged roads in Kapsait, located at the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
Despite her outstanding performance, Kosgei's coach has expressed his frustration with the poor facilities. 'It has been difficult to get good results due to the poor facilities,' he said.
The government had earlier promised to build stadiums in the North Rift to ease the sportsmen's training, but the stadiums, including the historical Kamariny, have not yet been completed.
Kenyan sportsmen are calling on the government to take their plight seriously and provide them with the necessary support to enable them to perform at their best.
Source: UGC, Published on October 16, 2019
