PS Tum calls for order in Kenya's sports federations

Sports Principal Secretary Engineer Peter Tum says the government is committed to support every sports discipline in the country, but on the condition that the parent federation aligns with the laws governing it.

Speaking during the official launch of the Nairobi City Marathon on Wednesday, the PS underlined the importance of transparency and accountability as key element for cooperation between the government and federations.

Tum reminded federation leaders that good governance is the only way to cultivate trust, not only for the government but all relevant stakeholders, importantly corporate institutions.

“Kenyans should be told the government is fully focused on developing every sporting activity in the country provided you are properly structured in governance and management,” said Tum.

“If you belong to a federation that is properly registered and you have every detail that is required by the Ministry, be assured that you will be supported accordingly. We are looking at developing the talent of the youth, of course through these federations,” added Tum.

There has been an unending cry by leaders of some federations, who feel they have not been accorded the support other federations have enjoyed from the government.

However, part of the good governance the PS was referring to is conforming to the Sports Act 2013, which is now under scrutiny among the sports stakeholders.

Recently, Murang’a SEAL Founder and Chairman Robert Macharia called for a proper review of the Act, saying it has become source of problems to some of the sports bodies.

“What we need is a thorough review of the Sports Act, not the piecemeal amendments I have seen here and there. There were serious problems with that law from the beginning, with all due respect to the framers.

“We therefore need to sit as sports stakeholders in a well coordinated forum so that we agree on how to review the laws governing our sport…” said Macharia, a lawyer with keen interest in Sports.

Meanwhile, Tum once again assured Kenyans of the government’s commitment to beat sporting infrastructure deadlines set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), ahead of AFCON 2027.

 “We are also developing infrastructure that will be necessary for the growth of talent in the country and that is a commitment the government has made to Kenyans, and we will deliver in time,” stated the PS, referring to the new Talanta Stadium, facelift of the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani and the Nyayo National Stadium.

CAF wants all the facilities earmarked for the continental showpiece set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to be ready at least by December 2025.

Lack of FIFA/CAF approved stadia in Kenya for the high profile matches has forced Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to host matches away from home, as it will be the case on Friday when Harambee Stars takes on Zimbabwe in Uganda (Namboole Stadium – Kampala) in the opening tie of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.

This is after hosting 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Burundi in Malawi earlier this year.