IS MARWA

Kenya's lukewarm performance at the Sydney 2000 Olympic games further
necessitates the need for an overhaul in sports administration in this
country. Two gold medals are simply not good enough for a country like ours
which has a vast reservoir of running talent and experience. Kenya's
potential at Sydney was 12 gold medals. Full credit however goes to Ethiopia
and Cameroon for bringing joy and pride to the African continent. The
Ethiopians triumphantly edged us out in Sydney and this must serve as a wake
up call.

Sport continues to grow into a bigger and bigger business the world over and
there is every reason for us to cash in and not be left behind. Many of the
barriers preventing sporting progress in Kenya are easily identifiable and
need to be broken down. Our forte still remains in athletics which is
administered by the Kenya Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA), a body more
renowned for it's running battles, than it's running exponents. KAAA's short
history is mired by controversy and acrimony, and it is a miracle that Kenya
continues to do well in world meets. For instance, KAAA was involved in a
bitter and unnecessary selection dispute just before the Sydney games, that
resulted in it's being taken to court and it's suffering a humiliating
defeat. Just before the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games, KAAA was also at the
centre of controversy when it's secretary general was involved in a bitter
exchange of words with the Kenyan Chief de mission, none other than the
legendary Kipchoge Keino. Other controversies revolve around financial
impropriety and sexual abuse. The latter could be the reason why Kenyan
women athletes have failed to triumph on the Olympic stage.

As with most other matters in Kenya, these are some of the causes of
sporting underdevelopment in this country that need to be addressed. It is
ironic that despite of the joy and pride that athletics has brought to this
country, it is still a long way off from being incorporated into our
National heritage. Our athletes are only heroes and only gain recognition
when they triumph on the world stage. After that they are consigned to
oblivion like the rest of us. For instance, none of the 12 universities in
Kenya have a scholarship scheme for athletes, and neither do lower colleges
and schools. There is neither a pension scheme to cater for athletes on
retirement. The Kenyan parliament voted itself a generous pension package
last year enabling members of parliament to qualify for pension even after
serving only one five year term. There is no such scheme for Kenyan
athletes.

KAAA does not solely come in for criticism because the administration of
sports in Kenya in general, is in the doldrums. Soccer administration for
instance lacks a long-term structure, and this has resulted in erratic
inconsistent performances. There is also a vast wealth of soccer talent in
this country that is not being harnessed. Many Africans including myself
have fond, nostalgic memories of the 1990 soccer world cup where Cameroon
triumphantly made it to the quarterfinals. The team that partly comprised of
Roger Milla, Cyrille Makanaky, Thomas Nkono, Francois Omam Biyik, Andre
Nkana Biyik, Richard Massing, Emmanuel Mbouh Mbouh, Mfede and Mabuong,
brought pride and joy to the continent. One of the main reasons behind
Cameroon's success in the 1990 world cup was the fact that many of their
players played in European leagues, and even then, not first division sides.
Cyrille Makanaky for instance, then played for a third division French side,
yet his performance in both the 1990 world cup and the 1990 Africa cup of
nations was outstanding. We must also be challenged to encourage many of our
players to play in Europe. At present, it is only Mike Okoth who is playing
first division soccer in Belgium.

Another soccer game that is remembered with nostalgia, is the quarterfinal
match between France and Brazil in the 1986 soccer world cup, when dazzling
soccer skills were on display. I recall watching a similar provincial soccer
game between Ofafa Jericho secondary school and Jamhuri high school in 1983
in what was known as "carpet" football in those days. Those were the days
when Kakamega high school reigned supreme on the National school's soccer
scene and the days when our soccer clubs were known for playing the ball in
the air, as opposed to "carpet". It goes to show the amount of talent that
has gone to waste in this country, and continues to go to waste. The last
commendable performance by a Kenyan side in soccer was in 1987 when Gor
Mahia F.C. won the continental, though second string, Africa Cup Winners
Cup.

Boxing is another sport in dire straits. Nothing confirms this more than the
fact that two Kenyan boxers absconded from the Kenyan contingent to the
Sydney Olympics and are still being sought by Australian authorities. The
two boxers cited all manner of frustrations. This is a far cry from the
glorious days of Kenyan boxing when the team was known as the "Hit-squad"
and had to it's credit several triumphs such as the King's cup in Bangkok,
and Africa's one and only Olympic gold medal in boxing in the 1988 Seoul
Olympic games, won by the late Robert Wangila Napunyi. Credit also goes to
boxers that existed before Napunyi's time such as Dick Tiger Murunga,
Stephen Muchoki and Ibrahim Bilali.

Progress however has been made in diversification and immediate commendation
goes to Kenyan cricket for attaining test status and for hosting the just
concluded high profile International Cricket Council (ICC), mini world cup
in Kenya. It was a great honour to have world class players like Sachin
Tendulkar of India on Kenyan soil. Jacob Okello also deserves high
commendation for emerging as runner up in the high profile Kenya Open golf
tournament in 1998. These are Kenyan accomplishments to be proud of.

We should also emulate our neighbours the Ugandans, who appear to have a
sound sports policy. It is common to see different Ugandan sporting
disciplines window shopping on the streets of Nairobi while on transit to
sports meets in Europe and North America. In 1998 for instance, there was a
weightlifting tournament in the little known pacific island of Nauru, which
Uganda attended. The organisers were so impressed and moved by the
attendance of the little known Ugandan weightlifters from far off Africa,
that they met all they bills for accommodation and meals. It is this kind of
resolve that we need to build into ourselves.

Strength is in diversification and we need to diversify our approach to
Nation building in order to create opportunities for as many Kenyans as
possible. Sport is one avenue of attaining the desired diversification.
Patriotism in this country is at a record low, thanks to a warped system
that is incapable of delivering service to the people. It is crucial that we
take up the calling of Kenyan musical duo, "GidigidiMajimaji", in their
latest CD, "IS MARWA", meaning "it is ours". The title "IS MARWA" represents
an apt fusion of the old and the new, "is" from English, and "marwa" from
the Luo language meaning, "ours". At least two interpretations can be read
into "IS MARWA". One is that Kenya is our country, and the other is that we
need to fuse our different cultures, talents and abilities to develop this
country. Part of this fusion is sport.

This country is in deep trouble and tangible solutions for the future need
to be sought and defined. The Kenyan system is crumbling fast and the two
terrifying words in common usage nowadays are "staff retrenchments". It is a
tragedy that we continue to insist on doing things the age old way even as
we witness the collapse of the system before our very eyes.

Many of us still desperately subscribe to the beliefs of a system that has
hopelessly let us down. Many of us are making the same mistakes that our
parents made. Many of us were told to go to school for a better future and
many of us are still desperately yearning for that better future. Let us not
stop going to school, but let us also create tangible alternatives for
ourselves, and dispense with the notion that formal education and formal
employment, are the one and only means to a bright future. If running a
marathon will put food on the table, then let us run marathons and run them
well. If playing soccer will pay the school fees, then let us play soccer
and play it well.

Many of us are under the illusion that the much-heralded change will come
about by way of a grand and instantaneous event, which is not the case. This
country is already undergoing the crucial process of change and those who
will be at the forefront in 20 years to come, will be those who hard the
foresight, character, strength and determination to be innovative and pick
the signs of the time. That time is now.

Michael Mundia Kamau
P.O. Box 17510
Nairobi
Kenya

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