The National Olympic Committee of Kenya [NOCK] has lauded the Ministry of Sports under the stewardship of Amb (Dr.) Amina Mohammed and her Team led by PS Joe Okudo saying the duo have embraced Kenyan sports and sports people in a very dynamic and pragmatic manner.
Over the recent past, the Ministry has adopted a very collaborative and participatory management of sports, where stakeholders are consulted and engaged in key areas that affect our athletes.
The last two and a half years have seen major transformation that will have a long lasting impact in the Sports Sector.
“When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, sports activities were shut down across the globe. The Cabinet Secretary, in response, immediately engaged the sporting fraternity leadership, especially us at the National Olympic Committee- Kenya to explore the impact of and possible interventions of the pandemic upon our sportsmen and women” part of the NOCK statement read.
The Cabinet Secretary established a stimulus package that saw over 3000 athletes benefit from cash transfers, food packages, and psychosocial support.
She also quickly spearheaded the development of resumption of Sports guidelines that saw safe resumption of sporting activities. These guidelines have been borrowed from Kenya used across various other countries.
Throughout the pandemic period and up to the Games in Tokyo between July and August this year, the Cabinet Secretary made it her personal priority by providing leadership of all the processes necessary to prepare Team Kenya for the Games.
These include support, including through funding of the qualification process for athletes, both individual and team sports in Kenya and abroad.
“The Ministry also made the necessary arrangements to ensure that athletes were put in safe and secure bubble training camps before proceeding to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. In addition, they were facilitated to meet the required covid-19 testing protocols and, later, securing the full dose of vaccination for the athletes and their entire entourage” the statement added