CS Mvurya tells federations to forge united front as LA 2028 Olympics preps start

Speaking during the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) Annual Presidents and Secretaries-General Seminar in Machakos on Thursday, Mvurya said an enabling environment should be made for all athletes to inspire sporting talents in the country.

The three-day workshop which started on Wednesday is bringing together all sports federations chiefs, marking the official start of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics preparations for Kenya.

“This conference is very key, you know, in making sure that we have a focused leadership in the federations. There will be an opportunity for the federations to learn from each other and they will also have an opportunity to form a formidable team because we need to pull in the same direction toward major sporting events like LA 2028.

“We need the federations also to make sure that they work as a team to inspire talents and make sure that all the boys and girls, men and women who are participating in the various disciplines are able to get support. And therefore it is very critical for NOC-K and the federations to create an enabling environment, together with the ministry,” he said.

He added, “We all need an enabling environment where leadership in federations will be very transparent, with good governance, and that then inspires the growth of our sporting talents in our country. And therefore, as a government, we will support the federations, but I have also asked them to comply with the Sports Act.”

On his part, FKF President Hussein Mohammed said sports was the latest tool used to uplift life standards of talented Kenyans as it will help resolve issues on unemployment, crime matters, health, discipline among others.

“For us as FKF, we are excited to leverage our interests based on the relationships we have with all institutions that are relevant in sports development. But I think what is important for us as a federation, is to make sure that we continue preaching the importance of good governance, integrity, credibility and accountability.”

“And I think also for sports in general, we are at a very critical point in our country, where I believe that sports can resolve a lot of our issues as a nation.

“But we need all hands on deck. We need everybody to come on board. We need the private sector. We need the government. We need the federations also to step up in terms of their governance structures and the integrity and credibility of the institutions, so that we can get Kenyans on board in terms of developing sports generally,” said the FKF boss.

According to NOC-K president, Shadrack Maluki, the retreat at Maanzoni is seeking to start early preparations for next Olympics with this year’s theme being “Getting the Basics Right for LA 2028 Olympic Games,” aiming to lay the groundwork for Kenya’s preparations ahead of the multi-sport event.