Kenya@60: Why there is nothing to smile about as far as grassroots sports is concerned

As the country prepares for its 60^th birthday bash, set for December 12 2023 in Nairobi, some may argue that strides have been made in sports…but a lot of gaps remain unfilled more so at the grassroots.

In the far flung corners of the country, stretching from Turkana, to Lodwar, to Kitale, to Lungalunga, and to the bare, desolate pitches in Lamu and West Pokot, many talents are nipped in the bud before they sprout.

For others it is due to insecurity and hostile environments which can’t allow them to freely express their talents, while for some, it is the systemic failure by the National and County governments to put in place systems – facilities and financial investments needed for these talents to realise their dreams.

And as Citizen Digital spotlights the fate of the sports at the grassroots, many athletes and trainers from different disciplines are united in their call to the government: wake up and smell the coffee. They want a lot done and key to it is talent identification, a clear path through which they can develop and opportunities to break even at the top.

For the few who have hit the glass ceiling, their tales are almost similar: individual brilliance and personal sacrifice so much so it is as if their success is by accident.

For instance, despite the country's outstanding performance in the Intercontinental Beach Volleyball Championship, the sport is still struggling to gain popularity in Kenya, many unaware of it, while the few who dare venture into the sport are seen as daredevil souls, perhaps on a wild goose chase.

Moses Mbuthia, the beach volleyball federation chairman, attributes the poor state of the sport to the lack of viable hosting venues and expensive equipment the sport needs.

"It's difficult to even host beach volleyball tournaments in Kenya because most sand beaches are privately owned, unlike in countries like Morocco,” he said. “Sometimes we travel to the Coast in search of a place to host beach volleyball and even end up hosting on a private beach. The game also requires balls, which are rare in our local market.”

Matthew Birir, a former Olympic Games 3,000 metres steeplechase champion, currently training athletes in Eldama Ravine, emphasizes that the lack of standard training facilities and financial support is a significant constraint in nurturing upcoming runners.

“We lack standard training grounds and a gymnasium; the athletes also lack shoes. They also have to participate in local races so that they are aware of their abilities, but due to a lack of funds, they cannot grace marathons held in different parts of the country.”

He added that financial constraints have also led to athletes' abuse, with women bearing the brunt.

"The challenges have fostered athletes, especially ladies, to fall into the hands of cons in the name of coaches who take them to camp and force them to assume the role of a wife during the stay and even steal their hard-earned money,” he lamented.

Milton Kidiga, a Division Two football coach highlights the lack of sponsorship and resources, and how it is hitting the soul of the sport so hard.

"They mainly concentrate on the top-tier leagues, forgetting that the lower leagues act as a build-up to the top clubs, and this will lead to the failure of establishing heritage in the sport. Grassroots teams are dying because of a lack of a funding model,” he lamented.

In boxing, Benson Gicharu, the coach of Mukuru Fight for Life Boxing Club, notes that the scarcity of boxing gear and resources to honour away fixtures is a setback in the game.

“This is a contact sport, yet some equipment is in poor condition. At the same time, it's shameful to keep borrowing, so the pugilists incur a lot of injuries, posing a lot of threat, “he lamented.

And as expected, on Tuesday, as Kenya marks its 60^th anniversary of independence, more red carpets will be rolled out for the big boys, with the promise of a better tomorrow for the athletes, which, unfortunately,  for many, remain just  a mirage.