President Uhuru Kenyatta said the government will be involved in talent search and development of all sports disciplines in the country. Mr Kenyatta also reiterated the government’s commitment to funding all national teams. Kenyatta directed the Sports Ministry to work with sports federations and explore ways in which the government can be involved in supporting national teams from the lowest level.
“As a government, we want to ensure all the national teams are funded fully from the national football team Harambee Stars to Kenya Rugby Sevens, netball, athletics and the rest,” the President said during the prize-giving ceremony of Kenya Open golf Championship at Karen Country Club.
These were his word from his own mouth and now you will wonder where is Uhuru’s government with the promises he pledged to support National teams. Kenya Prisons Service’ women’s volleyball team has plunged into deep financial trouble at the ongoing Women’s Africa Club Volleyball Championship in Cairo. Sources understands the team is holed up at the Al-Albilla Hotel in the Egyptian capital over non-payment of bills and, as a result, the facility’s management has elected to confiscate the passports of the entire contingent comprising 12-players, two technical bench members and an administrator, rendering them virtually prisoners.
Worse still, the team’s players and the technical bench are yet to receive their allowances for competing in this tournament. According to multiple sources, the five-time African champions, who are bankrolled by the Ministry of Interior under the Kenya Prisons Service docket, are struggling to pay bills for meals and accommodation at the hotel with an initial Sh300,000 deposit against the expected Sh1.1 million deemed deemed insufficient. Meanwhile, the relevant ministry officials are said to either be unwilling or unable to make these payments, further lowering the morale in the team’s camp.
