Coach Kirwa welcomes nomination of former
Boston marathon winner Korir as new Sports CAS

Veteran local Athletics coach Julius Kirwa has lauded President William Ruto for appointment  former Boston Marathon champion Wesley Korir as the new Chief Administrative Secretary-Ministry (CAS) of Sports.

Kirwa who was Korir’s coach at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where he took part in the Olympic marathon, told People Sport that it was a great feeling to have someone who had actively participated in sports and to the highest level as part of the key persons in the Ministry of Sports, noting that it was a win for the entire sports industry.

The 40 year old Korir is also a former Cherangany Constituency Member of Parliament and is remembered fondly by the athletic fratenity for winning the 2021 Boston Marathon in a time of 2hrs 20mins and 40 seconds.

“This is a very good news to us in the sports sector and particularly Athletes. Wesley is a man who understands his what athletes and coaches or rather what sports persons go through and what needs to be done to make Kenya dominate the world in key disciplines. I am sure he will help deliver the mandate of sports growth in this country,” Kirwa told People Sport on phone.

He added: “He is a leader and I recall I have coached him for a while and I have always seen his leadership qualities. We only hope he will channel his energy and wit into that important seat because sportsmen want to see a difference through him.”

Korir is now expected to help drive the vision and agenda of Sport Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamaba in a bid to help the Kenya Kwanza Administration achieve their dreams of sport development through the bottom up approach.

Coach Kirwa called on the new blood to focus on the human resource and welfare of both coaches and sports persons so as to get the required synergy.

“We believe in him and know he can perform. My only appeal to him even as he settles in, is to push programs that will help the Kenyan Athletes grow.

He should help in streamlining sports that has consistently faced challenges like lack of facilities, poor pay and even low recognition for our stars. At the same time as a coach, I would ask Korir to help with the managerial aspect, especially the coaching bit,” he said.

He added: “I feel for the longest time a lot of emphasis and focus has been on the Athlete and not the Coaching staff who are for all intents and purposes the fuel that drives the engine. We are the forgotten lot yet we do a lot in development. Otherwise I wish him well in his new posting.”