CS Murkomen Pressured By Senators For Poor Performance At Paris 2024 Olympics
Kipchumba Murkomen took over the Sports Ministry on Thursday after a baptism of fire.
Senators, including those from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), called Kenya’s performance at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics heartbreaking.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot expressed his dismay at Team Kenya’s defeat in the 3000 and 1500 Steeplechases, noting that the races were previously associated with Kenya.
As a result, he stated that Murkomen faces a formidable task in improving Kenya’s sportsmanship and restoring the country’s Olympic glory.
“The performance of Team Kenya at the Paris Olympics has been nothing short of heartbreaking. As a fan of athletics, I do not recall a time that we have performed as dismally as we have done in this Olympics,” he stated.
Sen. @CrystalAsige seeks a statement from Labour & Social Welfare Committee regarding Team Kenya's underwhelming performance in 2024 Paris Olympics. #BungeLiveSEN. pic.twitter.com/HkLwqN2870
— Mzalendo (@MzalendoWatch) August 8, 2024
“I know there are a few races that are yet to be concluded but it broke my heart to see Kenya lose the 3000 Steeplechase and 1500 Steeplechase, races that we have previously dominated and have come to be associated with Kenya as a republic.”
“Therefore, the new CS for Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, has his work properly cut out. We must guide the country in the proper direction,” he added.
Cheruiyot challenged the incoming CS to integrate science into athletes’ training to enhance their talents on the international level.
He argued that several international athletes train at Iten grounds before departing for their respective countries in order to integrate training with technological advancement, a critical factor lacking in the Kenyan ecosystem.
If we have to reach out to the grassroots, then we have to establish points of contacts, people of focal points in the various constituencies and counties so that information generated from there can then be shared in a manner that's organised, in a manner that is going to be…
— Mzalendo (@MzalendoWatch) August 8, 2024
“The truth of the matter, whether we like it or not, is that science has caught up with talent,” noted Cheruiyot.
“While many of our athletes are talented and therefore can make do despite our disorganisation, the science of running where athletes come into this country, train with us in Iten then disappear in January to practice for the final race is that those people have learnt how to do this even though they are not as talented as our athletes.
“Therefore, we must also come up with better solutions on how to manage our athletes, it even starts with how we treat these athletes,” he added.
Cheruiyot was supporting a motion introduced by Nominated Senator Crystal Asige, who wants the Ministry of Labour investigated for its poor performance.
Asige believes that inadequate social welfare for athletes contributed to their poor performance.
Senator Veronica Maina, who was nominated by the UDA, and her Nairobi counterpart, Edwin Sifuna, an ODM member, both supported her motion.
“We have not invested in sports. The last meaningful national and international stadium were built by (former) President Daniel Moi,” Sifuna posed.
“We football fans missed a critical fixture between Harambee Stars and the African champions, Cote d’Ivoire because it had to be played in Malawi. It was very embarrassing.”
Kenya has won five medals, including one gold, one silver, and three bronze.
CS Murkomen Pressured By Senators For Poor Performance At Paris 2024 Olympics
