On the eve of the CHAN 2024 final match between Morocco and Madagascar at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe termed the tournament as the most successful edition in the history of the competition.

These words aptly captured the very essence of the continental football tournament. His statement did more than pay homage to Kenya’s capacity to stage a world-class tournament; it displayed the surging confidence in Kenya’s accelerated initiatives to reengineer the sports sector and position sports as the next frontier of community and national development.

In the past three years, Kenya’s sporting landscape has witnessed massive transformation marked by unprecedented infrastructural development, enhancement of benefits for athletes and aggressive push for talent spotting initiatives. The reimaging of the sports sector is fuelled by an emergent consciousness of sports as a key catalyst for economic transformation, a tool for social cohesion and an enabler of community empowerment.

Principal Secretary for State Department for Sports Elijah Mwangi says reconfiguring the sports sector is paramount to opening up diverse economic opportunities. Mwangi explains that talent development programmes, massive infrastructural investments, reviewing of the legal framework, streamlining the operations of sports federation and involvement of private sector actors in the growth of sports are mandatory for making the sector one of Kenya’s economic mainstay.

“Sports is no longer a recreational pastime. It is both a professional and commercial venture. It is a vast universe teeming with opportunities for talented youth as well as various professionals,” he explains.

To achieve the envisaged transformation, the government has adopted various approaches for optimising sport’s benefits with infrastructure development being the most prominent. This entails construction of fully-kitted stadia, talent academies and community grounds to open up the grassroots for talent spotting initiatives.

The principal secretary points out that complete talent development is hampered by absence of requisite infrastructure that enhances talent nurturing and growth. He adds that with standard pitches, running tracks and courts across all counties, the nascent talents among Kenya’s youth will be manifested and tapped.

“Talent thrives when the environment is right. This is why we are providing optimum conditions to facilitate development of diverse talents and skills,” he says.

Currently, the ministry, through the Kenya Academy of Sports, is constructing 37 modern sports academies across various counties during the Phase 1 of this project. Each facility, valued at Ksh55 million will have a standard football pitch, an eight-lane athletics track, a volleyball pitch, a netball and basketball court as well as a social hall, changing rooms and borehole.

The target is to have sports academies in all the 290 constituencies to enhance around-the-country tapping of grassroots talent.

The construction of stadiums in Kenya has also taken the centre-stage in revitalising the sports sector. After renovating Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium that hosted CHAN 2024 matches, the government is now putting over 60 modern stadia that are currently in various stages of completion.

With a seating capacity of between 10,000 and 20,000, these stadia will support Kenya’s capacity to host regional sporting tournaments. Some include Raila Odinga Homa Bay Stadium, Kirigiti in Kiambu, Kinoru in Meru, Bukhungu in Kakamega, Kipchoge Keino in Kapsabet and Kwale Stadium on the coast.

The most current stadium is the 10,000-seater Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui which hosted the Mashujaa Day National celebrations.

However, the Holy Grail of sporting infrastructure is the ultra-modern Talanta Sports City set for completion by December 2025. Considered the hallmark of excellence in sporting facilities, Talanta Stadium will host Kenya’s main matches for Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.

With its towering iron-curtain walls, spectacular outlook and ultra-modern amenities, the 60,000-seater is poised to be one of the biggest stadiums on the continent. Designed to be a football-only stadium, Talanta has among its main features 52 luxury skyboxes as well as additional pitches with running tracks, a dedicated railway line, roads and a power station.

The permanent secretary points out that apart from bolstering sports, the construction of the facilities have created employment opportunities for thousands of youths.

“These projects have employed a lot of youth. As we strive to bolster sports in Kenya, we are also creating avenues for job creation,” he notes.

Other reforms include the enhancing of the cash award scheme for athletes where a gold, silver and a bronze gets Ksh3 million, Ksh2 million and Ksh1 million respectively. For breaking a world record, the government has allocated a five million shillings’ cash award.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Wagema Mwangi