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{
    "id": 586866,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/586866/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 273,
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    "content": "jobless today. They are engaged in a more meaningful way of nation building. Apart from that, sports has brought us together as a country and encouraged cohesion in line with our national anthem. Our various sporting teams have done very well in the recent past. For instance, a women’s volleyball team, popularly known as Malkia Strikers are the current continental title holders. I wish also to make it clear to Members that the team that represented Kenya in Congo Brazzaville in All Africa Games in women’s volleyball is actually our second team. As we talk today, that team is the holder of the title in volleyball in All Africa Games. Our rugby Sevens Team is ranked No.7 in the world and second in Africa in the IRB series. Our athletics team which participated in Beijing IAAF championships emerged No.1 winning a total of 16 medals of which seven were gold, six silver and three bronze. Our athletics team that participated in All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville, as captured in my Motion, did us proud by winning a total of 12 medals of which three were gold medals, five silver medals and four bronze medals. They finished in position nine out of the 37 countries which participated. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, such performances by our athletes are indeed commendable and deserve an honour. However, we must be aware of the existing challenges especially poor funding and management of sports associations. These challenges are barring our sports teams from achieving greatness. Such challenges have led to the dwindling Kenyan fortunes as a cricket powerhouse. They have also thrown our boxing sport into almost oblivion and reduced our great Harambee Stars to mere participants in regional and continental tournaments. Apart from the underfunding of sports activities and wrangling in sports associations, our sports persons are faced with numerous other challenges including:- 1. double taxation from source and by our Government including taxation on sports equipment bought by our athletics for training; 2. inadequate training facilities; most of our stadia have remained in bad conditions apart from the Safaricom International Stadium in Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium. Even then, these stadia are poorly equipped to meet the needs of our sports persons. This is not acceptable if we want to continue being a sporting nation. The high altitude training camps in Iten, many of which have been set up by athletes themselves, remain the only notable training facilities that have even attracted elite athletes from all over the world including Moore Flora and Paula Radcliffe. To encourage many of such investments, we, as legislatures, should consider reviewing the tax regime in favour of our athletes. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other challenge is lack of mentorship and guidance in finance. You all must be aware that nowadays sports pay very well. We have a seen a number of athletes losing their careers as a result of poor investment decisions or lifestyles resulting from sudden improvement of their financial status due to excellence in their sporting disciplines. A good case in point is the former cricket player, Maurice Odumbe, whose career nose-dived as fast as it had taken off due to lack of guidance and mentorship. Most recently, our marathon great, Samuel Wanjiru, despite doing his best to invest and safeguard his future, his lifestyle and success became a major impediment to his further progress. May God rest his soul in eternal peace. There are many other examples that could be cited including the fate of Congestina Achieng that you all know very well. We must make amends and set up structures to prevent our athletes from being consumed by their own success. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}