Strategies for Promoting Sports in Kenya

Abstract

Sport is a human activity that contributes immensely to the welfare of participants and the society as a whole. It is appreciated across people of varying cultures, races, age, gender, colour and religion. It is recognized as a facet of socio-cultural, political and economic development. However, inspite of the level of recognition that sport enjoys in Kenya, minimal achievements have been made by her sportsmen and sportswomen in the major sports disciplines in the world. The limelight that the country enjoyed on the international scene in the 1960s and 1970s due to her athletes' commendable performances in the middle and long distance races has been gradually on a nose-dive. Athletes from other countries such as Morocco and Ethiopia have become constant challengers to the Kenyans. The national soccer team, Harambee Stars, has never qualified for the Olympics has never stretched beyond the preliminary round of the games. The country's performance in international competitions in events like boxing, wrestling, hockey, basketball, swimming, gymnastics and the so-called minor sports at all levels has been dismal. It is in the light of this that the present paper delves into presenting managerial and technical strategies that are crucial to the development of sport in Kenya.