CS Murkomen flags off Kenya's U-20 team for world athletics championships in Lima, Peru
The Cabinet Secretary Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen, EGH, flanked by Principal Secretary Eng. Peter Tum and Lt. Gen (Rtd.)Jackson Tuwei, today flagged off 22 athletes from Kenya’s U-20 athletics team ahead of their departure for the World Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru, from the 27th to the 31st of August, 2024.
In a ceremony held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, CS Murkomen expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bring home medals and make the nation proud.
"We are sending you forth to go and represent your country as our brand ambassadors. I wish you the very best and look forward to you coming back home with all kinds of medals, and if possible, all the medals."
He assured the athletes that the government is committed to providing adequate support for all Kenyan sports teams, noting that there will be no repeat of past incidents where sportsmen had to endure poor conditions, such as sleeping in airports.
"We will ensure that all teams we support receive adequate funding. The days of our sportsmen sleeping in airports are over," he promised.
The CS reiterated the government's commitment to enhancing the grassroots approach to identifying and nurturing talents, particularly through talent camps and sports academies across the country.
"We will continue to establish more sports academies across the country for all sports disciplines," he said, adding that the Ministry will support schools that excel in sports by improving their facilities.
The CS emphasized the importance of aligning talent development with education, stating, "We will formalize our engagement between sports and education to ensure that talent development is well-integrated with the schooling system."
Recognizing the competitive nature of Kenyan athletes, CS Murkomen noted that those seeking opportunities abroad should not be ostracized but viewed as part of the country’s labour export strategy. “We will allow them to run for other countries, but we will beat them on the track,” he remarked.
Additionally, the CS announced that the government will be gazetting standards for the construction of stadia, including provisions for sports science and necessary equipment. "After we complete all the projects, every stadium will be equipped to train our athletes better, as we must look into science to reclaim lost ground in some categories such as the 3000m steeplechase," he asserted.
He pledged monetary rewards for the athletes, with Ksh 500,000 for gold medalists, Ksh 350,000 for silver, and Ksh 150,000 for bronze, along with a personal donation of Ksh 100,000 to each medalist.
The World Championships in Lima will feature six categories, including 800m, 3000m, 5000m, 1500m, the 3000m steeplechase, and 10000m race walk.