The Vihiga County government has allocated Sh 5 million to support the sports teams’ participation in upcoming events.
Speaking during the commissioning of the funds, Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders, including team leaders and the Department of Sports, for their continued support and commitment.
Governor Ottichilo applauded the progress made in the sports sector since the county began allocating resources to support local talent.
“Initially, there were only two teams but since we introduced the funding, several teams have emerged, and sporting activities have significantly increased,” he noted.
The governor emphasized the wealth of talent in Vihiga and said the county is committed to nurturing them through continued financial support. “In Vihiga, we have a lot of talent, and this fund will help us harness that talent,” he added. However, the governor acknowledged challenges such as limited financial resources and delays in disbursements from the national government.
“Many times, I receive calls about the inadequacy of resources. We would like to increase the funding, but the challenge is the limited and delayed disbursements from the national exchequer,” he said, adding: “We hope things will improve so that we can support more teams.”
To address the funding challenges, Governor Ottichilo proposed diversifying county revenue streams and urged residents to cooperate with the government on tax compliance to support social programs.
The governor also assured residents that plans to purchase land and construct a stadium in Vihiga are underway, adding that Sh30 million has been allocated to complete the construction of Hamisi Stadium, which will host county sporting events and serve as a hub for nurturing local talent.
Meanwhile, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Gender, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, Anne Desma, congratulated the 12 teams that qualified for funding.
Desma reiterated the county’s commitment to helping the remaining teams meet the qualification in future calls for applications.
She pledged support to those who did not qualify, promising assistance in securing the necessary documentation. “Vihiga has immense sporting potential despite facing hurdles such as poor infrastructure. To grow talent, we must engage private partners and corporate stakeholders to help young people find employment through sports,” she said.
By Rose Wasike
