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{
    "id": 1563529,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1563529/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 264,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "If we examine the proposal to share the proceeds of that fund, it is surprising to see that 60 per cent is now directed towards UHC. What does UHC have to do with sports? Only five per cent of the funds are allocated to sports development and promotion, while 20 per cent goes toward arts development and five per cent is set aside for strategic interventions by the Cabinet Secretary. This is why some of us believe that President Kibaki had a strong vision for this country. However, those who took over from him were visionless. How do you divert funds originally intended for sports to sports unrelated sectors? One of the urgent steps we need to take, even as we work to amend the Sports Act, is for the Committee on Delegated Legislation to review and annul the Public Finance Management Regulation 2018, as it fails to serve its intended purpose. This regulation is against the youth of this country and an obstacle to the development of sports. We cannot be appropriating 60 per cent of this money for UHC, while at the same time going for peoples’ payslips to tax them for Social Health Authority (SHA) and Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Now that SHA taxation is in effect, this is the right time to annul the existing allocation and redirect the 60 per cent back to sports where it rightfully belongs. Mr. Temporary Speaker, another issue that is important apart from funding is the development of sports federations. We cannot have a vibrant sports academy in this country if we do not develop the federations. That is why Sen. Edwin Sifuna’s Bill is timely. We need to develop federations to ensure they are self-sustainable. These federations should be capable of sponsoring athletes for international and regional competitions. The funds meant for sports development are available, but being channelled to other things that are not sports related. Another concern is the need to support our local clubs. Some of them are struggling financially. Clubs like Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, both rich in heritage, are facing significant financial challenges, yet the funds exist. It is imperative that clubs qualifying for leagues each year, from Division One up to the Super League, receive substantial financial support from the Sports Fund to sustain their operations. Every weekend, many of us receive requests from clubs in our counties seeking sponsorship. They inform us that are stranded, unable to afford travel expenses for matches in Mombasa, for example. We cannot have a situation where we have done so well in established sports academies, but there are no clubs to absorb the youth graduating from these academies. We should have clubs that are ready to absorb them. We also need strong federations to support the growth of sports in this country. I, therefore, want to remove the notion that sports academy is about brick and mortar. I also want to remove the notion that the sports academy should be separate from the schools. If you go to countries like Spain and Britain, you find that the sports academies are also schools. I know some of us have taken our children to go and learn in those academies. They have an academic programme and a sports programme as well. What I am emphasizing is that our decision-makers must think well. They need to assess existing schools in each county, identifying those that can serve as centres of sports excellence and equipping them with the necessary facilities to transform them into great sports institutions. 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 and AudioServices, Senate."
}