Sports ministry put to task over delays in construction of talent academies

The Ministry of Sports has been faulted for the delayed construction of 290 sports academies across the country.

The National Assembly's Sports and Culture Committee on Tuesday questioned why the ministry was yet to start setting up the facilities that had already been budgeted for. Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum was supposed to appear before the committee to answer the queries but he did not show up.

The committee, which was chaired by Teso South MP Mary Emaase, was shocked by Tum's failure to appear before it. Instead, a communication sent to the committee said the PS had travelled to Paris for the Olympic games.

Not impressed with the communication, the legislators accused the PS of being a stumbling block in the implementation of the projects that are aimed at tapping and developing talents at the grassroots.

"We are tired of being taken around by the PS.  The National Assembly has appropriated money for the same and the delay in implementation of the projects is unacceptable," said Mwingi West MP Charles Ngusya.

Turbo MP Janet Sitienei said she read suspicion in the ministry's decision to delay the construction of the projects.

"We will not allow the PS to continue playing games with the committee whenever he appears before us to respond to this matter," she noted.

The sports academies were meant to nurture talents among youths in all the 290 constituencies.

Each academy will have a fence, field, murram track, terrace, washrooms, packing area, and water storage tanks, among other specifications.

Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, and Garissa were among the first counties to benefit from the programme. However, no ground-breaking has taken place to date.

National Assembly's Sports and Culture Committee Chairperson Mary Emaase. The committee has faulted the Ministry of Sports for delayed construction of talent academies. (Photo: National Assembly)

Konoin MP Brighton Yegon said he was aware the funds were allocated for the projects and questioned why the ministry was delaying the construction.

The committee questioned why the ministry recently advertised tenders for the sports academies only to cancel them later.

Ngusya suggested that the PS be surcharged for the funds paid for adverts.

The committee resolved that the PS should appear before it once he returns from Paris.

In May, PS Tum revealed that the government had, through a feasibility study, identified 27 sites to put up the academies, with seven earmarked for the initial phase in the 2023-24 Financial Year.

"We have done the feasibility studies, we have come up with the concept design and we are now working on the technical drawing," he said.

The PS said of the three budget proposals they received for the project, they settled on the cheapest one of about Sh50 million per academy.

"We will develop academies that are fit for purpose but we are not going to be," he said.

Tum said the government is investing in sports infrastructure and talents that can bring about economic sustainability and enhance the lives of athletes.

"Our goal as a government is to promote and develop talents; that's why we have doubled allowances for athletes to encourage more people to join the profession," he said.