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{
    "id": 646939,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/646939/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 208,
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    "content": "in the list that we are including in this in order not to end up with fines of Kshs3 million that many of our people cannot pay. It is timely to have this Bill because of the concerns. There are people out there who think we perform because of these substances. It is a shame for anyone to think so. This is the perception in many of the Western countries now. They think our performance in all these sports, particularly in athletics, is because --- The way they are writing “is commonplace”. That it is Kenyans who are just winning. I do not think the sons and women of this country are on this substance. They have been running for the last 50 years since Independence and have been winning these international championships particularly athletics. It would be unfair for Western countries to judge African nations on that criteria; that, we are not fit to beat them internationally. I think it is time we looked at those sports for which we have the distinctive comparative advantage to win. We need to focus on athletics, rugby, swimming and others. Let us not spend time on those sports that occupy --- We have not gone beyond East African countries in soccer, for all its glory in this country. I think there are sports where we need to invest. Investment is not only about national Government. In fact, one of the things that we need to do is to even prescribe how much percentage of our national revenue should go to the development of sports. We should do that for county governments. This House has the single opportunity to determine how county governments spend their money. We can state that some of the money that goes as sharable revenue to county governments should be a conditional grant for the purpose of development of sports. That will help our youth and enhance our competitive advantage in sports. Sports is about tourism. It brings business, money, tourists and development in the hospitality industry. The whole world is about visibility of your nation. I think we can and we should determine a percentage of resources that should be invested at both national and county level in the development of sports. There is also a wrong perception in this country that the people who can run only come from the Rift Valley, for that matter, from the Kalenjin community. This is wrong. It is about those people who have held the leadership of athletics in this country. They have created the perception that the rest of us cannot run. This is wrong. We need to identify talent across the country, give the opportunity equitably to everyone across the country and then you will see. Who, for instance, doubts what a Kalenjin can do in running, a Maasai cannot do? Who says what a Kalenjin can do in matters of running, a Somali cannot do? Athletes like Mo Farah who win for the United Kingdom (UK) and beat Kenyans some times are all Somali material. I think there are opportunities. Who said Luos cannot engage in those competitive sports if they are given the opportunity? It is just that for many years, the athletics leadership has been managed by leaders from the Rift Valley community. So, the perception is that it is only Kalenjins who can run. We can run and beat Kalenjins. Let us invest. We have the talent in this country, in fact, to do much more. Lastly, I thank our athletes, particularly, those who have always made us proud. We also thank our rugby team, other teams and many of our performers in sports who have made this country proud. I think they are not being adequately recognised. Our 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"
}