A survey of the challenges facing management of sports in Kenya hockey union

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the challenges faced by the management of the sports federations that hinder the development of sport in Kenya. The study sought to achieve this by.finding.solutions.to the following research questions: what is the effect of corruption on the management of Kenya Hockey Union?; what effect does political interference have on the management of Kenya Hockey union?; does ethnicity affect the management of Kenya Hockey union?; and what economic factors affect the management of Kenya Hockey union? The study used simple random sampling to select three officials of the sampled 23 clubs resulting into a sample size of 69 respondents. Data was collected by use of questionnaires and analysed by use of descriptive statistics. Tables, bar charts, histogram, grouped frequency distributions and pie charts were used to present the data collected for ease of understanding and analysis. The study established that the hockey union makes long term plans and set targets for sports development. The study also established that the federations appointed qualified management staff. The federation was faced with corruption as there was no transparency in the management of funds. Although the government should be involved in running of the sports in Kenya it should not be-the sole manager of the sports: Respondents described the training they received as inadequate. Among the causes for the wrangling in the federation included tribalism, competition for control of sports funds, rivalry over position, use of sports facilities and lack of proper hierarchical arrangement in management of sports. The study recommended that all the sports federations in Kenya be audited annually to ensure accountability for the sports funds. The study recommends that the government should refrain from interfering with the running of the sports in Kenya but only come in when there is need. The study recommended that the management of the sports federations be inclusive of everyone in the society i.e. should have a national image. The study recommended that the management of funds in the sports federations be"made independent'fromlthe administrative management for effectiveness.