Time and time again, Kenyan athletes have excelled internationally, but have had little success in monetizing their sports in Kenya. Unfortunately, Kenya is yet to harness sports because we treat sports as a hobby for our youth even when sports and entertainment are some of the world's largest employers.
Sports have been unmatched in getting the globe to take note of Kenya; the joke goes that all the diplomats in Kenya can not match the athletes. Clearly the images most associated with Kenya are our gold-winning elite runners. And now in the recent past, the growth of the Kenyan rugby team in the IRB Sevens circuit. Investing in sports, much like entertainment, will be in sync with formalizing parts of Kenya's informal economy offering a chance at employment for the country's unemployed. This return on this investment will be two-fold: talented athletes will find their worth and earn a living in sports and the development of auxiliary industries allowing Kenyans to use their entrepreneurial skills.
How many Kenyans out there continue to sit on their talents, clogging other job spaces and mostly doing jobs they do not even like and negatively affecting productivity? How much money do Kenyans waste on non-productive recreational activities which could have otherwise been channeled into sponsorship of productive talents in sports? How much can the country save in the fight against drug, substance and alcohol abuse? How much does the economy continue to loose in productivity due to lack of re-energization of the productive work force? Why do Kenyan sportsmen and women taken on citizenship in other countries? Is it fair to accuse them of not being patriotic when they shed their Kenyan citizenship? Why do our sportsmen and women burn out faster than those from other countries?
The arts and entertainment industries in Kenya face a similar predicament. Why have there been few successful literary authors like Ngugi wa Thiong'o? Why has Kenya lagged behind in the film industry, even after pioneering great productions like Tushauriane, while both the Nigerian and Ghanian film industries have been successfully monetized. And yes, the big one: can sporting rivalry replace tribal rivalry in Kenya and help forestall the catastrophic episode of January-March 2008. Much like there is Real Madrid versus Barcelona, Arsenal Versus Manchester, can we get Karachuonyo Versus Nyeri Town, Kilome versus Charangani and Garsen versus North Horr slowly developing? Around the world governments and entrepreneurs are investing in the talents of their populations. Perhaps it would do Kenya well to study the relationship between investing in a nation's talent and national stability.
To harness sports and the arts into investment making ventures there needs to be a shift in policies that will affect the progression of what is now seen as hobbies to money making ventures.
Firstly, Kenya's education system does little to encourage the development and growth of talent since the curriculum is largely designed around academia. I would call for the reorganization of the school week to have one day of the 5 days school going days to be dedicated to extra-curricular activities. Coaches can then nurture those students with talent who will in turn discover in themselves an opportunity for a professional career in sports.
Secondly, the Kenyan government has done little, even with a Sports' ministry, to fund sports. I would call for a minimum 15 billion shillings allocated to sports and entertainment. While this might seem exorbitant the government should not hesitate as the returns would be worth their while. The secret is not that the government has to foot these massive bills but it can put in a substantial undertaking of say 5 billion and direct it’s begging bowls to donors to fund the other 10 billion. In other words, just as we ask for funds to build roads, dams and schools we can also ask for funds to finance the development of our sporting potentials. I would be hard pressed to find an international donor who can refuse to agree with the assertion that sports and entertainment can be one of our ways out. Of this figure, each constituency should be asked to recruit 300 sportsmen/women and entertainers who the government will retain at ksh120,000 per year to guarantee them basic sustenance. They will renew the recruitee’s contracts annually. That will mean 7.5billion. 2.5 million at the rate of 12 million per constituency can be used to build constituency sports and entertainment facilities and purchase of equipment. 2.5 billion shillings can be used for developing and maintaining national facilities. One billion can be used to reward winners and performances so that we can adequately appreciate our own. The last billion can be channeled to transport and logistics, organisation of tournaments and leagues. The rest of the money can be used for running and managing the fund and the body administering it. This money should be channeled through a body (comprised of youthful personalities) specially formed for the duty and not the CDF committees like we love doing. Soon after sponsorship from the private sector will begin bank rolling tournaments and leagues.
Before long, Kenyan players can get the training they need to compete on the international stage in different sports. For instance reports like this one and this one show that Kenyan footballers are loosing the opportunity to play top flight football because of FIFA's ranking of Kenya. It is quite evident then that investment in training facilities would nurture competitive footballers. The same could be argued for Kenyan volleyballers, cricketers, rugby players, boxers and of course athletes.
Sometimes one wonders whether the government's indifference to sports and entertainment are informed by the fact that the youth form the bulk of those who may benefit from sports and entertainment and since they seem to have to have no one speaking for them within the ruling elite, then they are forgotten, conveniently, only to be recruited as goons during election campaigns.
AID for Sports? written by Dan , September 14, 2009
I agree with you that Kenya needs to invest in sports. However, I am afraid that I do not like that you suggest that we have to "beg" for money from donors for sports, or for anything for that matter. Is this not the direction that we are supposed to be moving away from? Why does everything have to come down to help from the West? And from our government for that matter?
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increase corporate sponsorship as well written by sprouting_flower , September 14, 2009
Great article. Totally agree that we need to develop sports as a profession in Kenya. Also agree with the post above... we do not need to look to the 'west' for financial support. Yes the government has a role to play and should invest more of its budget in sports and arts... I like your breakdown per constituency. This would be really wonderful. We also need more corporate sponsorship. Let's not depend on handouts but build our economy through our own hard work and investment.
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It;s Priority written by Nikraft , September 21, 2009
I beleive the letter is meant to buttress the need for giving sports and entertainment the priority that they should receive just as any other developmental issue we gatr involved in, which means if we ask for money from donors, then even sports should feature, But it's true this kind of money can be supplied by an open minded government.
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