Ababu to review Sports Act 2013, focus on fight against doping

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has reaffirmed his commitment to review the Sports Act of 2013, to seal the loopholes therein as he intensifies war on doping and match fixing in Kenya.

In an interview on Citizen TV Thursday morning, Ababu said he knows the gaps in the current law.

He conceded it would be almost impossible to effectively fight the vices without proper legislation, being emerging issues in the industry.

“It is our main priority to make sure that we eradicate cheating in our sports; doping and match fixing are thorns in our flesh. It is spoiling the name of our country, we know the Sports Act has loopholes and we will change it to effectively achieve our objectives,” said Ababu.

As at now, only sportsmen and women, the affiliate members of different sports bodies, are punishable directly for engaging in doping and match fixing.

At the same time the Sports CS confirmed that the AFCON 2027 joint-bid has been presented to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania want to host the biggest football fiesta for the first time ever, a challenge Ababu says they are ready for.

“We have been in talks in the last three days with my fellow Ministers from Uganda and Tanzania, and we have agreed on many aspects regarding the bid. One of the agreements is that every country contributes 30 million dollars for the fee we are supposed to deposit to CAF, “stated Ababu, who further elaborated the fee is payable upon winning the bid.

Egypt, Botswana and Algeria have also submitted their independent bids, ahead of next week's deadline set by CAF for expression of interest.

Meanwhile, the CS has reiterated that he will bring on board a broadcast partner for the FKF Kenyan Premier League at the start of the season.

“This season has had a lot of issues especially with the FIFA suspension, but still we have been able to achieve a lot.  My priority was to have the suspension lifted, which we did within the first month in office.

“I can assure you that next season we will have a broadcast partner, you can take my word on that,” affirmed the CS.

There has been no official broadcast partner for the Kenyan Premier League since the exit of StarTimes immediately after the disbandment of FKF national office by the former Sports CS Amina Mohammed in 2021.