Boost as Sports Fund increased in 2022/2023 budget

The Sports sector has slightly received a higher allocation in the 2022/2023 national budget after Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani recommended Sh15.8 billion to the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund as he tabled the next financial year estimates before parliament on Thursday afternoon.

The allocation is an increase from the Sh15 billion handed to the Fund in the last financial year.

Also CS Yattani, who tabled the last budget under President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime, proposed Sh.125 million for the refurbishment of regional stadiums.

“To further support sports development and tourism recovery, I have proposed an allocation of Ksh 15.8 billion for the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund; Ksh 3.2 billion for the Tourism Fund; Ksh 1.8 billion for Tourism Promotion Fund; and Ksh 125 million for refurbishment of the regional stadia.”

With major sporting events lined up later this year, like the Commonwealth Birmingham 2022 Games and World Athletics Championships, this is a major boost to the Ministry of Sports as it rolls its sleeves to prepare the Kenyan athletes.

Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei welcomed the allocation terming it as ‘significant’ ahead of the upcoming athletics championships.

“We’re happy because sports allocations keep growing every financial year and it shows how the sector is important to our economy. The year is very busy for athletics and we hope our teams will get befitting funding during respective championships,” Tuwei told Citizen Digital.

To discourage gambling in the country, Yattani imposed a 15 percent excise duty on fees charged by all television stations, print media, billboards, and radio stations for advertisements of these activities.

“Gambling, gaming and alcohol addiction, have become prevalent in our society. These habits are extremely addictive and can result in a variety of harmful repercussions especially to the youth.

“Advertisements for alcoholic beverages, betting, and gaming contribute greatly to the promotion of these habits. To discourage the promotion of these products and activities, I propose to introduce excise duty of 15 percent on fees charged by all television stations, print media, billboards, and radio stations for advertisements of these activities,” said CS Yattani.