Lack of training resources exposing young athletes to predators

National 400m record holder Hellen Syombua says rampant sexual harassment and exploitation of young athletes is being fuelled by insufficient training resources at the grassroots. 

Syombua said these predators, including coaches and managers, prey on these athletes' need for training facilities and kit to lure them into a trap. 

"Starting out in this profession is not easy because you need to access training kit and facilities, which in many cases you can't afford. So this is the chance that these people use to trap the young athletes because most of them are forced to bow to these demands in order to train," Syombua said. 

Drawing on her experience as an upstart in the sport, Syombua explained that athletics is an expensive undertaking, which requires a lot of investments to reap maximum returns. 

"It was not easy because many times I needed to travel from Machakos to Nairobi for a competition but I didn't have the means. On most occasions, I had to rely on my parents to facilitate my needs," she said. 

Turning her attention to the present, the Tokyo Olympian outlined her plans to double in 800m and her traditional 400m in the coming year. 

"It is time to take my talent to the next level and I believe it is possible for me to get another podium place at a major championship in addition to breaking my national record. For 800m, it is a step-by-step process since it will be a new domain for me," she said. 

Syombua added: "The next year will be a busy calendar so in as much as I want to soar, there is also the need to take it easy and listen to my body. I'll have to be careful not to incur an injury in any way."

 She was speaking on Thursday on the sidelines of Athletics Kenya's third leg of consultative fora with approximately 70 athletes from Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Murang'a and Nyeri counties. 

The fora, which began on Monday in Ngong',  are the first step towards eradicating the hurdles in the athletics fraternity, which pose a threat to the growth and blossoming of talent in the country.

Athletes spoke of the disconnect between them and local officials, leading to lack of access to training facilities and gear as well as skills. 

Long-distance runner Benson Kariuki called for athletes to be accorded a bigger say in the election of local officials to enhance accountability.  

"The officials are never here; they only want to associate with you when you win races or things start looking up. Otherwise when you challenge them and question their leadership methods, the common line they use is to concentrate on running, because that is the only thing you know," Kariuki said. 

Echoing these sentiments, Nyeri County CEC in charge of Education and Sports Margaret Macharia, said the athletes’ concerns cannot be simply swept under the carpet.

"We need counselling sessions for the athletes so that we can walk the journey together, be it physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual fitness. We all need a shoulder to lean on. It is my hope that we are going to partner more with the national Athletic federation to address some of these issues," Macharia said.