Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba says they have received a white smoke from the world football governing body Fifa that Kenya's suspension has been lifted.
The CS spoke after meeting with top brass officials from local sports federations at Moi Stadium, Kasarani on Wednesday. The exercise was rolled out to address a wide array of issues that have afflicted the federations for a while now.
“We have had engagements with Fifa and I'm glad that things are progressing well,” Namwamba said.
“In my last conversation with Fifa, I got confirmation that the suspension is pretty much lifted. We are awaiting official confirmation for that,” he added.
Defending sports as a key engine of economic growth, Namwamba called on those managing the federations to desist from engaging in unnecessary sideshows.
“Sports has branded the country in an unmatched way. Our flag raises in different parts of the world, and you feel the pride of the nation. We want to own the space of the value sports bring to brand Kenya and recognition of that brand,” Namwamba said.
“I’d like us to start the journey of a marshall plan for sports together. We need to focus on opportunities and how to exploit these opportunities in sports to unleash the potential of sports as an industry.”
Namwamba said he will not engage the federations in empty rhetoric anymore. “I do not usually engage in threats and we will not run sports by threatening each other.
"Either it's the rule of the law or the rule of the jungle. I do think the federations want to exist in a jungle.
“They want to exist in a space that is accountable and transparent and as I have said in my address to the federations— If you are not being transparent and accountable, we will not give you any money.”
In addition, he warned that the government will not fund federations that have been blacklisted for embezzling public funds. “We are not going to spend money in a manner that is not accountable and transparent.”
Namwamba said plans are at an advanced stage to house all the federations in a single building to save those that have been struggling financially.
“We've said we want to share space. We have a 17-story building that is being put together and we want to accommodate the federations that are having issues with physical addresses. You scratch my back I scratch yours. The government will support you but in return be accountable, be transparent and perform.”
For bans and suspensions to be lifted, the CS said the government would expedite the resolution of all issues plaguing local federations.
“We want to accelerate everything. When the federation is banned or suspended, it's not the officials that suffer. It's the sportsmen and women. It's the many Kenyans who earn a living from these sports that suffer.”
“And therefore I'm prioritising lifting of bans and suspensions of all the federations. We started with football because it was the worst case. Namwamba said he had met the world swimming governing body, Fina and they arrived at certain agreements.
“I'll be meeting with the local federation to see how we can resolve the outstanding issues.”
Namwamba said he was shocked that athletes were being charged to use local sports facilities.
Other government dignitaries who attended the meeting included PS Joe Okudo, Secretary of Administration Josephine Onunga, and Sports Kenya director general Pius Metto among others.
