Only when we put Kenya first shall we move forward

I do have a passion for sports and games and I have evidence that, where it is done the right way, it improves the morale of even the non-participants.

It, therefore, hurts me to see disorganisation and disorder in sports management and that is why I remain with last week’s thought.

The Cabinet Secretary for Sports the other day disbanded the National Olympic Committee of Kenya. No sooner had that happened than an official from that organisation stated that they will not disband and that the minister has no power to do that. He even threatened they may go to court on the matter and Kenya may not be allowed in future Olympics if they carry out this threat.

This drama reminded me of a fight some time back between the government and the Kenya Football Federation in which Kenya was threatened with being banned from the International Football body Fifa.

What actually happens? How independent is any one nation in the management of their games and sports’ activities both internally and internationally?

It would seem that some of the local sporting associations that are affiliated to larger international ones are independent of their national governments. Is that in order, yet they continue to seek support from those governments?

DEAL WITH FIASCO

Someone needs to explain these issues to those of us who do not know what goes on. I thought the minister was within the boundaries of his powers to try and deal with the fiasco that was the Rio Olympics.

According to the Nock official, that is not the case and he clearly stated that they “are not a parastatal …” and therefore they will not leave. Where is the demarcation between the powers of national governments and international sports bodies in the management and organisation of sports?

I am of the opinion that more serious thought needs to be put into this matter. There is a need to harmonise the balance between the power and role of government and that of international associations. It is also important to understand clearly the implications of the affiliation of local bodies to the international ones.

The most important element, however, should be the outlook of all of us towards these matters. I sometimes ask myself how patriotic many people who are in public management are.

When people are entrusted with managing such important functions as the Olympics, do they really understand that it is the name of Kenya that is at stake? Of course from what we have seen, many see this as an opportunity to make personal gain. It is only when we put Kenya first that we shall move forward.

Dominic Wamugunda is dean of students, University of Nairobi [email protected]