Miano at ease despite increasing trend of Kenyan athletes switching allegiance

Athletics Kenya (AK) Treasurer David Miano is not worried of the increasing number of Kenyan born athletes representing other countries in international competitions.

Although the trend started some years ago, there was an uproar at the Paris Olympics earlier this month when more Kenyan athletes were seen flying other nations’ flags.

When Winfred Yavi who hails from Makeuni County, won the 3,000m steeplechase title in Bahrain colours, there was a lot more unease and the debate increased.

While a section of Kenyans feel the trend threatens Kenya’s place as a global athletics powerhouse, Miano, a veteran administrator of the sport, holds a different view.

“We must not see athletics from a narrow view of just medals, there is more to it. You look at what some of these athletes are able to achieve through their talents as they represent those other nations and you realise the debate goes beyond those medals.

“You see, we have a lot of athletes who we may not accommodate fully to fly our Kenyan flag in the global arena. Should we deny them an opportunity if they get one, of expressing themselves and make a living? Just like we have Kenyans in different careers working for other nations and making a difference back at home, the athletes are not different,” explained Miano, who is also the Chairman of AK Central Region branch.

“If our sons and daughters have been recruited as military personnel in other countries such as USA and Britain, really that’s another level if we were to consider representing other nations. However, we embrace it because it offers opportunities to our sons and daughters. This is what is happening with our athletes too,” Miano elucidated.

His major concern is improving the sports environment to facilitate smooth growth of the many athletes springing from different parts of Kenya.

This, he feels, will help retain the country’s top spot in athletics globally.

“To me we should be more bothered by lack of the proper infrastructure needed for talent development. If we have the right facilities and embrace the ever dynamic technology in sports, we will still be up there. We will produce top athletes to favorably compete even with those who switch nationality,” averred Miano.

Apart from Yavi, the Olympic and world champion, several other athletes from Kenya have represented other countries. Ruth Jebet who moved to Bahrain, Wilson Kipketer who switched to Denmark, Lonah Kiplagat who got married in the Netherlands, Bernard Lagat who changed allegiance to the US, Stephen Cherono (Qatar) are just but a few examples.

Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday also defended the Kenyan athletes representing other countries.

"They must not be picked and ostracised. They must be supported the same way the president is supporting the export of labor from this country to other countries. In any case they all train here in Kenya jointly and the monthly they get there they bring it home to build houses for their parents or start businesses,” said the CS, during an awards gala ceremony organized by the Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K), to honour the gallant athletes who competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Kenya topped Africa, and was 17th globally at the Games.

Meanwhile, Miano has backed Team Kenya to reclaim the World Under-20 title at the Lima – Peru World Championships.

“We not only prepared the athletes well, we also have a very talented group of 11 men and nine girls. We are sure of improving on our Cali, Colombia performance,” an optimistic Miano told Citizen Digital.

The team jetted out of the country on Saturday ahead of the Lima fiesta.