Stakeholders welcome Uhuru – Daily Nation directive

President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive that all national teams representing Kenya should be fully funded by the government has excited the stakeholders of the sport.

Speaking Sunday at the renovated Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi during the Beyond Zero Half Marathon, President Kenyatta badured athletes that the government would fund all national teams.

"Sport will be a central part of my government 's agenda this year," said Kenyatta. "Our athletes are the bright star of Kenya, and all the national teams, whether they are netball or rugby, will be funded by my government.We have set up a fund (Sports Fund) for this, and I want to tell the athletes that they will not miss uniforms or training shoes. "

The Uhuru directive comes at a time when the Ministry of Sports is still making sure that all the federations adhere to the law on sport, created in 2013 by the Parliament.

It is under this law that the Sports Fund was created. The fund aims to develop sports and recreational facilities, including stadiums, gymnasiums, buildings and tracks, as well as to improve support and access to funding for athletes and sports organizations for their allow to participate in sporting events and competitions.

The directive, which was endorsed by Vice President William Ruto in a separate statement, comes at a time when an ill-prepared Kenya Sevens rugby team has had a difficult weekend to forget in the Ruby Sevens World Series in Canada. . The team, coached by Paul Murunga, lost 36-12, 35-12 and 36-21 against Fiji, Samoa and Canada in their pool.

"This directive is good news – a huge relief – our teams have struggled to produce positive results all season and that's partly because we are running empty," said Kenyan Rugby President Union, Richard Omwela.

Kenyan Football Federation President Nick Mwendwa praised President Kenyatta's statement, saying that the federation's activities were hampered by cash-flow problems on the government side. "The president said the same thing in 2017 and we now hope that it will be implemented to the letter," Mwendwa said.

"We have consistently faced funding delays from the government, and we have a big match (qualifying for the 2019 Nations Cup of Nations) against Ghana next weekend." At present, the government has not responded to our request for facilitation of air tickets (Michael) Olunga and (Victor) Wanyama: we also have a problem with the deferred allowances for the players of the national team The president is serious, but we must act now because we do not want to talk about money all the time. "

Kenyan Volleyball Federation General Secretary Ben Juma expressed hope that the government will use the budget of 55 million shillings needed to prepare national teams this year. The women's volleyball team will compete in the Women's FIVB World Cup in Japan in September, the qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic Games and the African Nations Championship. Kenya will also participate in under-21 beach volleyball matches in Africa in Algeria next month.

"Our teams are some of the best in the continent but we lack resources and if we can get the financial support we need, we will dominate the international," said Ben Juma.

Lucas Maranga, president of the Kenya Golf Union, said: "It's a good thing, but it's easier said than done, and we hope the fund will be managed efficiently."