This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
Published on November 11, 2019, the Kenya men's and women's rugby sevens teams have made history by qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The women's team had already secured their spot, and the men's team followed suit by winning the Africa Sevens Cup in Johannesburg, marking their second consecutive Olympic appearance.
With their impressive performance in the World Sevens Series, including a win in the Singapore leg in 2016 and four Main Cup final appearances, the team has shown they have the potential to medal at the Olympics.
However, administrative issues have plagued the team in the past, as seen during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where they faced problems with financial rewards, training facilities, and the technical bench.
It is hoped that lessons have been learned from these experiences, particularly after the government-appointed Rio 2016 Probe Committee highlighted the need for a cohesive technical bench, fair team selection, and proper remuneration of players and coaches.
Meanwhile, the national women's football team, Harambee Starlets, are set to face Zambia in Lusaka, requiring a win to advance to the final round of the Olympic qualifiers.
With a larger squad expected for the Tokyo Olympics, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) must launch early preparations, focusing on fundraising, to ensure a successful campaign.
The ongoing stand-off between sports federations and the Ministry of Sport, as well as the indecision by the Committee on Sports of the National Assembly, pose significant challenges to the preparations.
