The Elgeyo Marakwet County Government will soon call a meeting for players in the sports sector as it prepares to roll out the implementation of a sports act aimed at streamlining sports activities in the county.
The deputy governor, Prof Grace Cheserek, said the act will especially address the athletics sector, saying it will provide regulations that all coaches will have to adhere to.
Speaking when she received both young and elderly athletes who have done the country proud, the DG said the act will also address managers of sports camp to ensure that the camps are well managed to ensure they are safe, especially for women athletes.
The team included young athletes from Tangul and Kerer primary schools who won in the East Africa region youth championship and elderly athletes.
Elderly athlete Rose Tata Muya one of the athletes being feted called on young athletes to put efforts in their education saying they should ensure that they put 80 percent of their efforts in education with 20 percent being put in athletics.
She said this will ensure that athletes have a life outside athletics and will also be able to better manage their earnings.
“One can get an injury while running and therefore having a sound education will ensure that you continue earning a living if you are well grounded in academics,” she said.
She appealed to athletes to guard against doping which has ruined the career of many athletes saying each athlete has an individual responsibility of whatever goes to one’s mouth.
She also appealed to them to report those supplying the drugs to the government so that action can be taken against them.
Muya called for an end to gender based violence among athletes saying if things are not working one is allowed to leave adding that the Athletics Kenya has a counselling department which the athletes can reach out to in case of challenges in their relationships.
“We are ready to come offer counselling to couples to ensure that athletes also have peaceful families,” she said.
By Alice Wanjiru
