Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, has challenged corporate and private firms to delve into sports development and complement government efforts of revitalising sports in the country.
Ababu called on the organizations to view their controbutions to sports as an investment and not as an act of outreach or charity.
Ababu talked of the government’s intention of forming partnerships that will turn sports into a lucrative venture and industry.
“There’s no way government alone can carry the load of growing sports and turning sports into the huge economic ecosystem that sports should be. This requires partnerships, and especially partnerships with the corporate world.
“The reason why the Government through ministry of sports is working very closely with the corporates is to package sports as an economic product and get corporates to put in money – not as a CSR and not as a charitable activity but as an investment. Because sports is a big investment,” he said.
Speaking at Vipingo,Kilifi County during the recently concluded Kenya Ladies Open Ababu challenged sports federations in Kenya to put in place youth structures.
“Federations cannot be just about attending events or bringing budgets to attend events in different capitals around the world or hosting events here in Kenya. They must be the breeding grounds for growing talent. That is why I have asked federations to invest in youth and grassroots development programmes. Every federation must have a youth talent development programme. We are not going to give you any money just to host events if you don’t have a robust youth development agenda,” he said.
