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{
    "id": 1372773,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1372773/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 345,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Onyonka",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13592,
        "legal_name": "Onyonka Richard Momoima",
        "slug": "onyonka-richard-momoima"
    },
    "content": "I was in the studio with Hon. Shollei when I heard that Kelvin Kiptum had died. She was in tears. She told us that the week before, he had visited her and they discussed how he had done well and what needed to be done. According to her, there was a small tangential excitement about those discussions. They were planning to introduce a marathon when Eldoret City is launched in December. She said they were all excited about that. Unfortunately, the gentleman passed on. I have listened carefully to what my colleagues have talked about. This is something that we keep talking about over and over. Leave alone athletes, there is a way we handle others. There is a Kenyan struggling to become a superstar; whether an actor, athlete or footballer but we usually treat them casually. There are heroes who we were supposed to reward and encourage so that they mentor young athletes, successful footballers or artists, content creators and others. The problem we have is that even when we have Government funding for some of these programmes, it usually never gets to the people who deserve the money. The second issue that we also deal with casually or ineptly is that once an athlete in Kenya becomes successful--- There are time brackets. That is the time from when someone does well and when they get out of running or playing which is usually not more than five years. Remember the story of Rudisha and other great athletes. They take a short time because the training wears down the body. Why is it that we do not create a special insurance for our athletes? Why is it that when our athletes go for practice and they run, we do not even give them special insurance to help with their injuries or their challenges? I do not even think our Republic has a single university that will give students a scholarship because they run well or a university that gives Kenyan students an opportunity so that then they can excel and make our country grow better. I am sure you are aware that about two months ago, a Kenyan girl was number two at the Wimbledon Championship. She is called Kutonyi. I attended the Lawn Tennis Association championship; it was an international event. Nobody showed up. The Cabinet Secretary or his Principal Secretary in charge of the ministry did not show up. The Kenya Lawn Tennis Association (KLTA) is struggling because of the Competency- Based Curriculum (CBC). They are supposed to introduce tennis into the schools, but nobody listens to them. I mean, we have all the potential to succeed and make sure our country produces the best athletes. Look at what is happening to our football. We cannot even go to the Africa Championships. There were stars that used to be there like Oliech and the gentleman who was playing for Liverpool. Once they finish playing football, they cannot even be given a simple job in the Government. Athletes would be rewarded by the Government before, because they would then continue with their lives as they try to engage in sports to encourage their young ones to work. I would like to plead with this House and our counties. My colleague, Sen. Tom Odhiambo Ojienda, SC has said it very well. Why are the county governments not serious? I am sure, that if you check how many county governments have sports directors and whether these sports directors are given funds so that then they can encourage the youth to participate in sports, you will none. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}