State pledges to complete all stalled stadia

Mombasa,

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

KNA by Sadik Hassan

Principal Secretary (PS) for Sports and Culture Peter Tum has affirmed the government’s commitment to complete all stalled stadia for sports development and hosting of continental matches by the end of the financial year.

The Kenya Kwanza administration plan as espoused in the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) is keen to monetize talents and the creative industry.

Concerning the stalled Mombasa stadium whose construction was initiated by the county government at an estimated cost of Sh1.7 billion, the Sports PS put on notice anyone who may have misappropriated funds or government properties that government institutions are on their neck.

“Mombasa Stadium is a facility that is going to benefit everyone and we cannot reflect on what happened and not focus on what we must do.

 As the government we are in discussion with the County of Mombasa to work together to actualize that facility. The discussions are at a level where we think the construction and everything else will start very soon,” said PS Tum.

The State Department of Sports and Culture met with the National Assembly Departmental Committee Chaired by Daniel Wanyama MP Webuye West in Mombasa to discuss the fate of stalled stadia and the ministry’s programmes.

Daniel Wanyama said they are satisfied with the elaborate answers given by the PS on the status of stalled stadia and the Talanta Hela initiative poised to change the narrative of sport.

Wanyama reveals that studies show that Kamariny being in a high altitude area is not viable for a stadia and it will instead be used as a training camp for athletes.

On Mombasa stadia, Wanyama reiterated the government's commitment to cooperate with Mombasa for the completion of the county’s stadium.

“The Ministry of Sports through Sports Kenya had brought a tartan track which the county government has struck off and therefore the government is willing but it’s the county that is not willing to be assisted,” said Wanyama.

Wanyama lauded the Ministry of Sports for coming up with an innovative initiative and pledged legislative support for the Ministry.

PS Tum said engagements with Parliament on the growth of sports, talent creation, nurturing, and monetization will continue.

The Ministry of Sports plans to develop 20 pilot sports academies in constituencies for the identification and nurturing of talents. The PS noted that Sports facilities will not be set up due to political expediency but through a focused approach on sports in respective counties.

Tum said Talanta Hela football tournaments were conducted during the August school holiday in all the regions. Qualifiers are slated for December where talents will be identified and scouted by international clubs and the national team.

Football federations were encouraged to be registered and operate within the laws in their governance.

The Ministry has adopted a holistic approach to sports. It will continue with awards to encourage sportspersons to monetize their talents.

“We are looking at a focused environment of sports and talent creation that is definitive, and while you’re honing up your talent through that nurturing space that we have been given there is a possibility of you earning a reward,” said PS Tum.

Talanta Hela mobile application is set to be functional by the end of September and it will have a learning module on various topics in which learners will register and the training will be self-paced.

Courtesy; KNA