This archive report was first published on 5 December 2019.
On Thursday, Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jackson Tuwei announced the formation of an athletes' welfare body, a move aimed at addressing the financial and social needs of the country's top athletes.
According to Tuwei, the idea of forming the welfare body was born out of extensive research and analysis of pension, endowment fund, insurance, and cooperative societies. The goal is to create a body that will provide athletes with a secure financial future, including pension, endowment fund, insurance, and cooperative societies.
The welfare body will be introduced to the athletes during the ongoing Athletics Conference at Sirikwa Hotel in Eldoret, where a special session has been set aside to discuss the idea and gather resolutions on how to assist the athletes.
“We must start something that will assist these athletes now and in the future,” Tuwei emphasized, highlighting the importance of teamwork in making the venture a success.
Athletics Kenya has committed to contributing to the welfare body and has also requested the government and other well-wishers to invest in the welfare too.
During the conference, athletes attended sessions on team building, investment and retirement, taxation, and media and athletes relations. Over 170 athletes attended the session, while 108 road running athletes from Kenya and Uganda attended the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) education program on Wednesday.
“Athletes facing certain challenges in filing tax returns and contracts but they are now more informed so as to avoid issues of double taxation. We hope to have minimal cases or none on contracts,” said Tuwei.
AK has also offered free legal services to athletes who require guidance on contracts, citing the need to address the common issue of athletes signing contracts they do not understand.
