The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Boss has fired at the Ministry of Sports accusing them of only showing up when celebrating athletes who break world records.
Speaking on KTN TV on Monday, Boss expressed disappointment in how athletes are only accorded relevance after winning yet they are left on their own during struggles.
''We just want to be part of the celebration but not part of their struggles," she said.
"We only see the athletes when they break world records we don't see the mistreatment, the sexual harassment, the lack of money for food or medical insurance," she said
She challenged the Sports ministry to execute its mandate fully by nurturing talent.
Additionally, she emphasised the need for a sports academy that would at least offer numeracy and skills to the athletes and provide serene training for the athletes.
Her statements were echoed by Eldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan who pushed for legislation that will provide a special university to offer tertiary services to athletes.
He said the institution should provide services tailor-made for Kenyan sportsmen and women.
Their statements come after 23-year-old Kelvin Kiptum broke the marathon world record in Chicago on Sunday.
Kiptum broke the record to win the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours and 35 seconds.
He broke compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s world record of 2:01:09 set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.
Kiptum became the youngest marathoner to have run under 2:01:00.
Kipchoge is the only person known to have completed 26.2 miles in under two hours in 2019 when he ran 1:59:40.2 in Vienna, Austria.
