A nationwide covid-19 vaccination programme covering national teams was launched on Thursday 8 April by the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage in Nairobi.
Teams participating in the Tokyo Olympic and the Paralympic Games will be given the first priority. Those preparing for WRC/FIA Safari Rally Kenya, World Athletics Under 20 Championships, World Athletics Continental Tour and the Rugby Barthes Cup will also be given a first priority.
The exercise started officially at the Kasarani Indoor Arena with Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage, Amb. Amina Mohamed witnessing the action.
In a statement later released by the ministry through Amb. Mohamed, other counties notably Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet will be in the first line alongside Nairobi in the vaccination process that will run till Tuesday 13 April.
“In total, we have, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Nairobi Metropolitan Services secured 3500 vaccines for this exercise. My colleagues Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Health and General Mohammed Badi, Director General, Nairobi Metropolitan Services have provided our sportsmen and women an opportunity to become globally Covid-19 compliant, paving the way for our teams to safely compete in international events with the full protection of the vaccine. This indeed is the spirit of Government delivering as one,” CS Amina said in a statement.
“Our target is to inoculate a total of 3,500 athletes, coaches, officials and athlete handlers across the country ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the World Rally Championship, Safari Rally Kenya,” Amina stated.
“Increasingly sports organizers around the world are requiring that delegations possess COVID-19 Vaccination Passports over and above a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate. This exercise will guarantee that our athletes continue to represent the country in these crucial events, continuing with the Kenyan tradition of international sports dominance.”
The development comes barely a day after several sports federations pleaded with the Government to fastrak ways of aiding sports resumption in the country.