Permanent Secretary in the Department of Sports , Peter Kaberia. [photo/mod.go.ke/Ministry of Sports has come under scathing attack following claims from stakeholders of poor management of the industry in Kenya. At a sports tourism forum held at Metta Nairobi on Tuesday evening, Permanent Secretary in the Department of Sports Peter Kaberia was hard pressed to shield Government from the firestorm.
The participants who included media, professionals, and ex-sportsmen accused the Ministry of sitting back and watching the multi-million-shilling-sector plunge into a hole. Kaberia, however, confirmed that Government was keen to restore order and called on all parties with sports interest to speak one language.
As a Ministry, we are doing our best to get back to our footing and indeed there are changes, which are visible. I only request all stakeholders to share ideas and find solutions instead of blame games,” he said. The former diplomat lamented that outsiders were keen to paint the country in a bad light and urged for collective protection of the sporting idols and culture.
CEO of Sports Connect Africa Cynthia Mumbo on her part decried the value proposition in the sports sector for the corporates due to mismanagement. “No company would want to be associated with the bad press because brand protection is at the core of their ideology.
Unfortunately, Sports in Kenya is largely not commercially viable because the Federations have not been transparent in their dealings thus potential sponsors bolt off,” she said adding that there was a need for credible structures in place.
We should not even look further to the rot affecting most sporting disciplines because the leadership is wanting and bland,” said Ndege even as Posta Rangers midfielder Jerry Santos faulted poor welfare accorded to players as an embarrassment.