Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has said that the ministry is committed to pursuing ways of recognizing and rewarding Kenyan athletes, who are the country’s leading brand ambassadors.
Namwamba was speaking during the burial of the country’s first ever Olympic medallist Wilson Kiprugut Chumo at Kipsigis Girls’ High in Kericho County on Saturday.
“We have commenced engagement with various stakeholders in the sporting arena with a view to coming up with a proper welfare plan that will take care of our sportsmen and women upon retirement. Already, we have commissioned a study towards the development of this welfare framework,” Namwamba said.
The CS also took the opportunity to caution against doping, warning of dire consequences to the perpetrators of the vice. He challenged current and upcoming athletes to emulate Kiprugut in conquering the world all while running clean.
Namwamba led the athletics fraternity, government officers, retired army officers and people from all walks of life at the funeral ceremony for the late athletics hero where he admitted that Kenya sportsmen women had not been treated well, recognised and given proper care in their retirement.
Namwaba said it was unfortunate successive governments have not treated well and recognised sports legends saying the country owed an apology to great people like the late Kiprugut Chumo.
“We have failed as a country to cater for our heroes well. So we owe an apology to them.The great/heroes deserve a better recognition and treatment plus a better care. We must appreciate them for putting Kenya in the World map time and again,” the CS stated.
