The government has intensified efforts to develop sports as a professional career path for young Kenyans after launching a training programme for teachers in Murang’a County.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Sports in partnership with the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS), seeks to train basic education teachers as coaches in various sporting disciplines so they can identify, nurture and mentor talented learners from an early age.
The programme was officially launched at Murang’a Teachers Training College, where more than 200 teachers drawn from primary, junior and senior schools across the county gathered for the start of the 10-day intensive training.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Principal Secretary for Sports Elijah Mwangi said the government was committed to transforming sports into a sustainable source of employment and income for young people.
Mwangi noted that Kenya has enormous untapped talent in schools but success can only be achieved when learners are guided by qualified instructors with the right technical skills.
He explained that sporting excellence among the youth depends on equipping trainers and coaches with sufficient knowledge to improve training methods, enhance performance and sharpen talent identification abilities.
“Our young people have immense potential. To unlock that potential, we must invest in the people who train and mentor them. Teachers play a very important role in shaping future champions,” said Mwangi.
He added that the programme is also designed to revive the strong sports culture once associated with schools in the region and restore their competitive edge at county and national levels.
According to the PS, schools in central Kenya once produced some of the country’s finest athletes and teams and the government now wants to rebuild that legacy through structured training and improved support systems.
Mwangi urged the participating teachers to take the training seriously and use the new skills to help learners discover and develop their talents.
“I am encouraged by the zeal and enthusiasm shown by the personnel undergoing this training. Their dedication will be instrumental in re-engineering the sports ecosystem in our schools and promoting the growth of top-tier talent,” He added.
He further revealed plans to establish a regional sports academy through collaboration between the government, schools and technical training institutions.
The proposed academy, He said, would offer continuous training for coaches, provide advanced development opportunities for athletes and ensure the sustainability of the current initiative.
Mwangi also highlighted measures already introduced by the Ministry to encourage excellence in sports, including financial rewards for athletes who win medals or break world records during international competitions.
He said such incentives are meant to motivate athletes and demonstrate that sports can be a rewarding and respected profession.
During the 10-day programme, teachers will receive practical and theoretical training in several disciplines, including football, rugby, basketball, handball, volleyball, hockey and chess.
Officials of KAS said the broad range of sports covered in the training reflects the government’s commitment to holistic athlete development rather than focusing on only a few popular games.
The KAS Chief Executive Officer Dr Doreen Odhiambo described the initiative as a forward-looking investment that will strengthen the country’s talent pipeline.
Odhiambo said the programme would help Kenya build a sustainable system for identifying, developing and commercialising sports talent while preparing the next generation of champions to compete successfully on the national and international stage.
The teachers welcomed the programme noting the coaching skills could significantly improve sports standards in schools and open new opportunities for thousands of young learners across Kenya.
By Bernard Munyao and Purity Mugo
