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"content": "the All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville. If you will permit me, I would like to read some of the names of the athletes to illustrate how well they performed and the feelings of immense joy that we, Kenyans, felt when they ran and won gold medals. I will start by mentioning those who won gold medals in various events. These include: Vivian Chepkemoi Cheruiyot, (10,000m), Ezekiel Kemboi, (3,000m Steeplechase), Nicholas Bett (400m Hurdles), David Lekuta Rudisha (800m), Julius Yego (Javelin), Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi (3,000m Steeplechase), Asbel Kiprop (1,500m). There were others who did not win gold medals but did exemplary well. These were: Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor (10,000m), Conseslus Kipruto (3,000m Steeplechase), Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon (1,500m), Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku (5,000m), Helen Kiprop (Marathon), Elijah Manangoi (1,500m), Paul Kipng’etich Tanui (10,000m) Brimin Kiprop Kipruto (3,000m Steeplechase) and Eunice Chepkoech Sum (800m). These are just amongst the many athletes of Kenya who ran and brought glory to this country. Therefore, they really deserve to be recognised. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Julius Yego won gold in javelin. He learnt how to throw the javelin through the You Tube, as he puts his story. That illustrates how Kenyans have gone out of their way to become professionals in various fields of sports, yet the Government has given little or no attention to sports in this country. In the past, we have had many athletes who have won accolades internationally, yet this country has never recognised or given them the recognition they deserve. As my brother, Sen. Okong’o, said, we have athletes like Nyandika Maiyoro who ran barefoot during the 1954 Commonwealth Games and brought us gold. We have Kipchoge Keino who, in 1979 during the Commonwealth Games, also won gold yet nothing has been done for him. It is a shame that it is the International Community that brought accolades by helping him to develop one of the leading athletics school in Uasin Gishu. It is important that we give our athletes the necessary accolades, awards and recognition. Just as we feel immeasurably happy, excited and jump up and down when we see them on our televisions winning, we deserve to give them the same kind of honour and recognition in this country. We know that for many years, the performance of our athletes has been good. However, the Government has never given them anything. We have a lot of challenges which many Senators who have spoken before me have mentioned. There is the problem of poor infrastructure. We know that stadia in this country are not the ones that we can sing about, except one or two which all happen to be here in Nairobi. We know that there is lack of effective coordination and proper management of the athletics. That is why many of our athletes prefer to take “flags of convenience”. We know that many of them have gone to countries such as Dubai and Bahrain simply because we do not pay, honour or recognise them well. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is also another problem our athletes face, just like Sen. Billow said; this is mismanagement of sports infrastructure and corruption. I cannot understand how somebody could be the Chairman of the Athletics Kenya for over 25 years. Does it mean that there are no young people in this country who can run the organisation effectively? We have many young people in this country who have come of age and can run organisations and bring great value."
}