President William Ruto announces plan to reform Sports Fund, makes more promises in Kiptum's sendoff

Kenya’s President Dr.William Ruto on Friday 23 February announced that the national sports fund was going to officially shift its mandate to now be fully dedicated to sporting activities, through a pending move in Parliament.

President Ruto made the pronouncements during the burial ceremony of marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum in the Rift Valley village of Chepkorio, where he also promised plans to have new sporting facilities constructed in the entire region.

Established under the Public Finance Management (Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund) Regulations, 2018,the mandate of the Sports Fund has over the years been used to support the development and promotion of sports and arts, and the promotion of social development including universal health-care.

With the new directive, one used to support the reason for optimism on development of sports facilities in the region, the fund will now be “fully dedicated to sports” and “not all other issues.”

A host of dignitaries, former and current athletes, led hundreds of mourners at the funeral Friday, where the question of availability of training facilities and stadia around the Rift Valley region arose.

Kenya bids emotional farewell to 'unique and generational' Kelvin Kiptum

Javelin star Julius Yego was among the vocal athletes who asked for Government support saying: “I would really ask for our three Governors to unite their minds and see to it that athletes earn recognition and necessary support.

“For a long time we have been without training facilities in the North Rift region and it is our plea that we have such constructed for optimal performance. If possible, for the safety of our athletes, provision of security and drivers,” he added.

Answering the question, Cabinet secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Hon. Ababu Namwamba said that plans to upgrade Kip Kieno Stadium, one of the proposed venues for 2027 AFCON, were underway, as were those of initial groundworks for a ground in Chepkorio.

“Kamariny Stadium is already at the closing stages as we speak, and we initiated plans to upgrade a training facility in Iten,” CS Namwamba stated.

The same move was nodded to by President Ruto, who also spoke of introducing a retirement benefit plan for all athletes.

“I also task CS Namwamba to come up with a revamped reward system for athletes, that will recalibrate the figures we award to world beaters,” said President Ruto, who stressed on Kenya’s plan to work with World Athletics in curbing the nation’s doping menace.

With a house constructed for Kiptum in a record six days, Ruto also made the announcement that a new one for the family and his dad would be constructed in Naiberi, the burial site for the 24 year old champion.