Let’s utilise sports to build national unity, create jobs

For as long as I can remember – including those simple moments in the humble primary school I went to – I have always enjoyed watching and following performance in sports and games.

That is why I always feel compelled to follow any sporting activity anywhere in the world and particularly where Kenyans are participating.

Of course the events that we Kenyans get involved in internationally are limited to mainly long distance races but I am convinced that this does not have to always be the case.

As a nation, we have to come to terms with the fact that we have more potential than just that.

MINISTER
Be that as it may, the Commonwealth Games are currently in progress at a place called Gold Coast in Australia.

As I write this piece, our Kenyan contingent has so far won two gold medals – thank God – and I hope that this will give strength and hope to the teams and individuals that will compete in subsequent events.

I must say that from what I have seen from media reports it seems that we have a sports cabinet secretary who is passionate about sports if his involvement thus far is anything to go by.

Between when he arrived there and now he has attended quite a number of events. May be he knows one or two things about sports.

MANAGEMENT

My take on all these matters at this point is not about the technicalities of who does what or who wins what.

I am thinking about the whole Kenyan worldview about sports and games.

It is quite clear in my mind that in our national psyche - including at the national administrative level - we have all along missed the point with regard to this matter.

It is no wonder then that when these international sports events are being organised, the same story repeats itself.

The relevant minister, the principal secretary and quite a number of other senior government officers – not to mention other service providers - have to be included in the list of those who have to be in the list of attendees and even their allowances.

BONDING
There are certainly reasons why that happens but that is not for this forum.

The truth is that in the dynamic of sports and games there is a magical power that tends to bring people together.

Anyone who has ever been to an interschool or inter-college sports competition knows that and we may have to internalize that fact.

As a matter of fact, I am convinced that there is a direct correlation between performance in activities like sports and games and academic or even economic and socio-political output.

My biggest concern for now is that as a national community, we have neglected the potential that this sector has for providing gainful employment to younger Kenyans.

The writer is dean of students at the University of Nairobi. [email protected]