Apathy by politicians towards local sports raises queries
It is not arguable that sports are an important component of the Socioeconomic development of a country, not least Kenya.
Granted, there is also no gainsaying the fact that execution of mega sporting events helps in developing infrastructure besides generating employment to hordes of youth who are increasingly venturing into the career.
This is besides contributing significantly to the economic development of a country.
To this end, there is concurrence that the impact of sports on the economy and society is multi-dimensional and as such cannot be wished away.
Sadly, Kenya, despite being a renowned sporting powerhouse, scores poorly in terms of investment by the government with leaders who are intent on improving their political profiles giving empty promises on its improvement every other electioneering period. Most disturbingly, his has been the norm by the cheating politicians who search for votes from gullible voters before going underground once they are voted into office.
It is barely six months remaining to the General elections and once again, the case of hear-no-evil, see-no-evil has resurfaced. A case in point is when Deputy President William Ruto, upon his endorsement as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) official Presidential candidate, announced a raft of issues to uplift sports.
This was a declaration that was taken with a pinch of salt going by experience. In the countdown to the 2013 General-Election, his Jubilee Party made similar promises but made very little effort towards that end.
To say that Kenyans were taken aback by the unfulfilled promises would be an understatement, especially after the promise of building five ultra-modern stadia which never came to be. Kenya, which has a population of 53 million people, has no Fifa- recognised sporting facility, unlike Senegal which has roughly a population of 18 million people and which has ultra-modern facilities only comparable to those in Europe.
That apathy towards sports, especially during the vote-seeking by our politicians, is an open secret which is why Kenyans have become tired of the ping-pong game by Presidential hopefuls to issue blatant lies to voters for their selfish ends.
We want to point out in no uncertain terms that Kenyans are fed up with politicians going about their normal routines and remaining mute during which time Kenya has been indefinitely suspended by world governing body Fifa over interference in football matters.
It’s even more absurd that Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed dared to tell a parliamentary committee that the suspension of Kenya by Fifa is a blessing in disguise for the country.
That was pure balderdash as what Amina could have done is to engage the world body in round table talks on how the suspension can be lifted.
Rightly so, Amina’s utterances are oblivious of the wrecked lives of the country footballers who eke out a living from the sport.
She should better understand that millions of the country’s men and women footballers in the country have been affected by the ban as the country’s politicians fall over themselves while seeking votes from them.
