Develop a good sports master plan

Kenya has been without a sports policy for years despite numerous efforts to have one. Respective ministers under various governments have promised this master plan without results.

The country has witnessed failed elections, corruption, and mismanagement and waste in sports over the years and I wonder how the government intends to harness these natural resources.

I read in one of the draft national sports policy documents that given the widespread growing interest in sports by all sectors in the society, the government needs to mainstream sports in national development, especially those geared towards poverty reduction.

Sports is big business in Kenya and it’s baffling that a document guiding its running is not a priority to the government .

That there is little in terms of pushing the sports agenda in the new constitutional dispensation is not a laughing matter.

Potential

While sports has great potential to create employment for the youth and play a serious role in poverty reduction, a fragmented approach to its management has denied the country this vital resource.

The running of many sports associations and federations is marred in secrecy, their membership shrouded in secrecy while information on funding sources and expenditure is never shared publicly.

It is critical that a sports policy, be guided by article 35 of the Kenya Constitution 2010, which empowers members of the public to access, share and seek information on matters public so that we get to know where and how funds and resources meant for is handled.

Access to information is critical in uprooting the rot in sports in the country.

Once members of the various associations and the Government access the said information, it would be practical for bringing transparency and accountability if running sports.

One of the reasons we end up with unscrupulous people getting positions in sports management is the unclear membership and secrecy that surrounds the election processes in the respective associations.

The government owes Kenya a sports policy that lays ground for open, transparent and democratic management of sports where members, resources and equipment speared for sports is well known.

The demand for accountability and transparency in sports management, just like in any other business- is unstoppable.

The various sponsors in the sports sector should also demand for accountability including proactive information disclosures in their contracts with sports associations.