Kenya will host the first ever Africa Deaf Athletics championship between September 16 and 22 this year.
Deaf Athletics of Kenya officials had presented their plan to the government and they have now been given the green light with Sports Ministry PS Kiremi Kaberia promising to support them. DAK had presented a budget of Sh150m to the ministry but the government has offered to give them Sh80m only with the rest being sourced from sponsors.
DAK have already started engaging sponsors over the same and they are optimistic they will get the remaining part of the budget to host the event. Kenya was awarded the rights to host the event due to their dominance in the World Deaf Championships.
Organisers expect a total of 24 nations to take part in the championship which will be the first ever to be held in Kenya. Organisers are yet to announce the nations which have confirmed their participation.
Meanwhile, the national deaf team, which took part in the Deaflympics Games in Turkey 2017 are yet to be paid their allowances. The squad that comprised of 90 members including 62 athletes were supposed to receive Sh8m from the government. Kenya finished 8th overall in the games after scooping 16 medals. The government has been promising to sort the issue but nothing has been forthcoming since 2017.
