Technology can enhance sports excellence in Kenya, says DST boss Momanyi

Sports Digital Tech boss Kerubo Momanyi has termed technology as the new frontier that will help enhance sports excellence in Kenya.

Speaking during the 2024 Sport Tech Africa Conference on Tuesday, Momanyi highlighted utilities like performance tracking, analytics, and big data as critical innovations that can push sports excellence in Kenya to the next level.

 “With technology in the sports sector activities like doping among athletes can be brought to an end through data and statistics analysis.

“This hub will also help in researching the mechanisms a player or coach can include through user experience to prepare his team physically, mentally, and psychologically,” said Kerubo.

“Sports tech is limitless to everybody, and a person can fit in his or her area of interest, which may include sports nutrition, sports marketing, and many more fields within sports,” she added.

Software, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and Digital Economy director Dr. Evans Gishugi reckoned technology as a potent force that will create employment and support Kenyan athletes.

“The ministry fosters the sports digital hub to improve on the live streaming of local matches, furthermore the ministry is also dedicated to fostering good relations and seeks to engage all sports stakeholders locally and abroad so that we can come up with the platforms that we can utilize,” said Gishugi.

“The sports sector also contributes a lot to the Kenyan economy, and the innovation of sports tech Africa has come on a timely situation and through it is going to be crucial to some digital marketing companies in our country,” he added.

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairperson Sasha Mutai noted with concern the way Kenyan sports have stagnated in the recent past, however observing that his union has been at the forefront of embracing technology to enhance performance.

“Currently, one of our players who has been very crucial for the team, John Okoth, had an injury, but through the digital technology which they have been relying upon, he has been attended to, and hopefully, he shall get well soon”, said Mutai.

“KRU also uses drones to track players in the field. This is often accompanied by cameras of different lenses, and through this, we’ve been embracing sports technology.” Added Mutai.

FKF-Premier League giants AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda welcomed this year’s theme, terming technology as a one-stop shop that will help solve a majority of their problems.

“The period I took over as the Leopards club chairman is the period we lost support from our sponsors.

“Running the club was a major challenge, especially during the big matches like AFCON that could be played outside the country, as asking for support was very difficult”, said Shikanda.

“At times, paying the player's salaries was very difficult, and on many occasions, I could go the extra mile for the club to sign new players from my own pocket, but with this great innovation, I know the channels will be formulated with the club stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of activities within the club”, added Shikanda.