Interior Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Patrick Ole Ntutu has bashed off Coastal County governments for what he termed as failure to invest in sports facilities as a way of nurturing sporting talent among the youth.
Addressing participants during the Coast regional marathon at Kijiwe Tanga primary school grounds in Malindi Sub-county over the weekend, Ntutu blamed the coastal county governments for not equipping the youth who are supposed to represent the region in national marathon championship in Eldoret this week with sporting attire.
“We have the county governments around here but it is a shame for the leaders for the youths to go to the championship without sporting attire,” he added.
He said that sports will help engage youth in meaningful activities and also help in the fight against illicit drugs trade and early marriages.
The CAS said, “it is only Taita Taveta County that is doing something to elevate the youth from drugs through sports and that is why they have been scooping all the marathon titles in the region.”
In the championship, Taita Taveta County scooped all the trophies and emerged overall winners in the 6 kilometer races, 10 kilometer races, and the relay race.
Taita Taveta County led the rankings with 55 points against Kilifi which had 19 points while Mombasa and Kwale counties tied at 9 points. Lamu and Tana River Counties did not have participants.
20 participants were selected to represent the region in the national marathon championship that will be held in Eldoret starting Wednesday, February 20.
Only participants in Taita Taveta and Kilifi counties qualified to represent the rejoin with Kilifi producing four while the rest were from Taita Taveta.
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