Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen handing over to his Sports counterpart Salim Mvurya.Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has officially handed over the sports docket to his successor CS Salim Mvurya while reflecting on his remarkable achievements during his brief time in office.
Murkomen said in just four months since he took over, he supported the growth and development of sports in the country with a focus on the enhancement of infrastructure and the welfare of sports personalities.
He said he also played a key role in advancing sports governance, starting with the successful push for elections within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), marking a major step toward good governance in sports federations.
“The responsibility of a cabinet secretary is to provide leadership. The technical know-how already exists. My greatest achievement is to have been able to lead for those few months, my mantra is that a bad decision is better than not to make a decision at all,” he said.
Speaking during the event at the ministry’s Talanta offices, the CS said some of the decisions he made during his time are built on the foundations laid by his predecessor.
“I appointed key members to the National Youth Council, Advisory Board, and the National Youth Council Elections Steering Committee paving the way for elections to the NYC for the first time in over a decade,” he stated.
The CS said he further oversaw the initiation of 37 sports academies out of a planned 290, with tendering already underway for their construction.
Emphasising the development of young talent, the CS noted that there has been an increase in the number of athletes being trained by the Kenya Academy of Sports.
His efforts, he stated, have seen 3,000 young athletes trained in December 2024, a significant increase from the 1,800 trained the previous year.
Additionally, 215 girls and 215 boys were enrolled in an elite camp for specialised training in five sports disciplines.
Under his leadership, the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project also took off, with applications for startup grants of Sh50,000 set to open on January 15.
Murkomen further pushed the country closer to hosting the Africa Grammys headquarters by completing the requisite payment.
In terms of infrastructure, Murkomen said he ensured that the sports venues hosting major events like the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 are upgraded on time.
Key venues such as the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani, Nyayo National Stadium, and Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret are currently under renovation.
Kasarani and Nyayo stadia he said, are set to be completed by the end of January 2025 in time for the championship.
