Raila: Give Olympics team full support
National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) officials pose for a photo with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (centre) after their meeting at Capitol Hill, Nairobi on January 28, 2020. PHOTO | AYUMBA AYODI |
What you need to know:
- Kenya put up its best ever show at the Summer Games during the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- The country had 13 medals which include six gold, six silver and one bronze, a performance that surpassed their show at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where they won six gold, four silver and six bronze medals.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga wants Team Kenya exposed to quality training to enhance performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games slated for July 24 to August 9.
Raila, who is the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) leader, called on the government, corporates and other stakeholders to pull all stops and ensure Team Kenya prepares well.
“He wants all the disciplines that have not qualified to be given full support and those that have to prepare adequately and that they should be exposed to quality build-up matches and facilities,” said Waithaka Kioni, Team Kenya's Chef de Mission for the Tokyo Games.
Kioni said that Raila called on the team’s management to deliver a scandal-free competition unlike what transpired during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Kioni was addressing Nation Sport after leading a high-powered delegation from the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) to meet the Opposition leader at his Capitol Hill Centre office on Tuesday morning.
Kioni, who is also the Nock Second Deputy President, was accompanied at the closed-door meeting by First Deputy President Shadrack Maluki, Secretary-General Francis Mutuku and Treasurer Anthony Kariuki. Also present were Nock committee members Shoiab Vayani, Paul Otula and Winnie Kamau.
Raila had earlier met Football Federation of Kenya (FKF) officials led by President Nick Mwendwa and Chief Executive Officer Barry Otieno.
NOCK PLAZA
Kioni was amazed by Raila’s fantastic memory of Kenya’s performance at the Olympics since the 1956 Games and his general knowledge of Kenyan sports.
National Olympic Committee of Kenya First Deputy President Shadrack Maluki (second left) addresses the media after their meeting with Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Capitol Hill, Nairobi on January 28, 2020. With him is Winnie Kamau (left), Waithaka Kioni and Shoiab Vayani. PHOTO | AYUMBA AYODI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kioni cashed in on the meeting to thank Raila for his timely intervention that halted the intended auction of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) Plaza, whose construction had stalled in March last year.
Odinga noted with concern the plan to sell the building in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area through a public auction over monies owed to Sidian Bank and called on the government to stop it.
Sidian, who were the main financiers, had put the building under the hammer in advertisements in the Daily Nation of March 18 and 25, 2019.
This is after Nock was unable to rescue the stalled construction of its Sh1.2 billion headquarters, Nock Plaza.
“It’s through his intervention that the government moved in to take over,” said Kioni. Kioni said 88 sportsmen and women had so far qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, but their hope is to send a team of 100 athletes.
Maluki said they discussed sports development with Raila and funding of sports by the government.
“He wants all Olympic programmes and funding from the government fast-tracked to facilitate good results,” said Maluki.
Kenya put up its best ever show at the Summer Games during the 2016 Rio Olympics.
They country won 13 medals which include six gold, six silver and one bronze, a performance that surpassed their show at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where they won six gold, four silver and six bronze medals.
