HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 64187,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/64187/?format=api",
"text_counter": 264,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Kinyanjui",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Roads",
"speaker": {
"id": 48,
"legal_name": "Lee Maiyani Kinyanjui",
"slug": "lee-kinyanjui"
},
"content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for granting me the opportunity to participate in this very important Motion. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Mover of this Motion because, indeed, it has come at a time when the sector is in dire need of great attention. Not too long ago, one of our top lady boxers was admitted in a mental hospital because of stress. We know that, that was partly because there is no law in place to take care of our sports men and women when they are off the game. Allow me to say that in the area of sports, Kenya has been acknowledged as a champion in many fields and, more so, in athletics. I had the opportunity to visit Mexico last year. The minute I mentioned that I was from Kenya, I was reminded of the 1969 athletics where Kipchoge emerged as the winner. Indeed, the name of Kipchoge there is revered. We do not only want our athletes to be revered out there, but we also want to recognize them and give them the due respect that they deserve. If you also look at the field of sports, internationally, you will see that this is not just about sports, but also about business; in one way or the other. If you look at all the major tournaments we have in the world, whether you are talking about tennis or badminton or the French Open or the Australia Open, you will see that they are all big sports which have been marketed to an extent that they have become international activities. If you remember, here in Kenya, we used to have the Safari Rally over Easter holidays. But about 15 years ago, it was withdrawn and we have not had it. I think it is important for us to encourage some of the events that would encourage tourism in this country. We should look for ways to encourage sports tourism in our country and support our young men and women to excel and even get sponsors. I wish to reiterate that, as we all know, when sports people start their career, naturally, they cannot be in their top form for over 10 years, depending on the discipline they have picked. Therefore, if a young man got involved in athletics at the age of about 25 years, by the age of 35, he would not be in top form and would not participate in international tournaments. This Motion will ensure that once the young men get into sports â we know that many times, once they engage in sports at a high level, their academic performance goes down â they will earn a decent and reasonable future and put as much effort. It is also worth to remember that many of the young athletes, once they participate in international tournaments, at times, they win huge amounts of money. When they come back home, they have no investment skills and, as a result, they are suddenly thrown into a completely different world. They lose their balance. They then forget what they were supposed to do. We have heard about many athletes who make a bang and thereafter disappear once and for all. This is partly because they do not have managers who can manage their enterprise and help them in the investment that would be necessary to guarantee their future. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is also important to note, as a Government, that we have not invested sufficiently in sports education. We do not have people who can take up sports as a business; train and manage our athletes and ensure that they move on properly. Allow me to say that in the field of sports and, more so, in tennis--- We know that whenever our young players perform very well, most of them get scholarships to go and study in other countries. When they go there, the tendency is that they adopt the citizenship of that country. Once they do that, of course, we lose very talented and able young men and women. The country ends up being a training ground and we do not reap the benefits that would be there. The reason why that is happening is because we do not guarantee the future of our athletes. Therefore, their continued citizenship as Kenyans would rob them of the future that they require. It is important to note that when those athletes are in their top form, they have the money to have a good diet and to take care of their medical expenses. However, once they are out of shape, medical bills and basic insurance becomes a problem. Therefore, it is my hope and wish that, as we think about the Fund, we look at operating an insurance scheme so that they are taken care of. As I had said earlier, one of our lady boxers was admitted and it is unfortunate that one well wisher had to go and pay for her. However, if we had such a medical scheme, it would cover their medical requirements. That would be one of the best things. Let me add that the future of sports in this country will greatly rely on how well we can recruit our young men and women at an early age, recognize talent and develop it to a level where they can compete with the best. The best way we can do that is to incorporate sports in our educational system. It will be remembered that in our school curriculum, physical education lesson is an optional class, especially as children approach Standard VIII or their final examinations. Many of them do not attend physical education lessons. If it is properly propagated, we would identify talent at an early age and possibly, come up with institutions of higher learning where we can have our sports and, at the same time, continue with our education. It is unfortunate that some of our best players, whenever they succeed and join universities, do not find programmes that can help them to enhance and develop their skills in whatever area they are good at."
}