Kenyan boxers in action (Photo/the-star.co.ke)
The Boxing Federation of Kenya (BAK) has backed Kenyan gaming giant SportPesa by threatening to boycott April’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
The federation has demanded that the government revise its move to impose hefty taxes on gaming companies, something that has forced Sportpesa to withdraw local sport sponsorship.
Addressing the press on Tuesday at Serani in Mombasa, BAK President John Kameta said that the boxing fraternity is set to lose Sh22 million sponsorship if the 35 per cent tax is retained. He said that the government should mind the youths who are the greatest beneficiaries of the sponsorship by gaming companies.
“I just do not know who advises the President who seems to be completely out of touch with the reality on the ground on how SportPesa, in particular, is spending a fortune on the youth through sponsorship of football, rugby, boxing, to name but a few,” Kameta said as quoted by Nation.
Kameta also blamed Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario for embarrassing the sporting community.
“The Kenyan government has long under-supported sportsmen and women of this country with the current Sports CS failing to attend a single boxing league event in the five years he has held that docket. But the SportPesa CEO has always been with us,” Kameta added.