Ababu Namwamba, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, disclosed four short-term goals for uplifting the sector on Tuesday night, November 28, 2022.
Namwamba made the revelations during an interview with NTV’s sports journalist Bernard Ndong.
According to the CS, who has come under fire recently, he has several objectives that are aimed at transforming the neglected industry.
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TeamKenya.co.ke looks at the goals that the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Budalangi Constituency talked about.
Turning Sports into an industry
The CS disclosed that his immediate goal is to turn sports into an industry that can employ many people and enhance the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Sports is struggling too much because it is being treated as a sideshow. Sport is still treated merely for entertainment. Of course, sport is great entertainment, but it is also an industry.
“I want to turn sport into a mega industry, which can be a big employer and key contributor to the GDP. We can do that by monetizing sports and through more investments in the Kenya Academy of sports.
“And I have already started putting more money in the Kenya Academy of sports. We are soon launching a major project called Talanta Hela which is going to be really a monetization of talents in this country,” stated Namwamba.
When asked about the timeline, Ababu replied that the program will be launched within a space of one month.
Live coverage of sports
Sports in Kenya, particularly the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL), have suffered in the past few years due to the lack of television coverage.
Namwamba vowed to bring back the good old days when fans watched football matches from the comfort of their sofas.
“I want to push for live coverage of sports. I am already in talks with SuperSport and other potential partners. If NTV is ready, let us sign the deal now,” he revealed.
Getting sponsors back
Namwamba further added that getting sponsors back into the industry is another target he set for the ministry.
“The other thing we need to do is to get sponsors back to sports big time.
“I am having a round table with sponsors next week because I want to interest sponsors to get back into sports.
“For some reasons sponsors have taken flight, I asked the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) today, with such a premium brand of rugby, like the 7s, how can you not attract sponsorship?” he explained.
Sorting out issues of accountability and governance
The final goal that the vibrant CS talked about concerns governance.
He promised to work with relevant authorities to ensure the federations account for the funds that they receive from the government.
Namwamba touched on the issue of Shujaa players going without pay for a period of three months, stating that the officials at KRU need to style up.
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