•Undoubtedly, the commissioning of Talanta Plaza ascertains the government's commitment to the development of sports in the country.
•Undoubtedly, the commissioning of Talanta Plaza ascertains the government's commitment to the development of sports in the country.
Image: TEDDY MULEI
The government finally unveiled the monumental Talanta Plaza in Upper Hill, Nairobi last week.
The 16-storey building will serve as the headquarters of the Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts.
The building will also host the Sports Fund, sports federations as well and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) offices.
The most amazing part is that Kenyan sportsmen and women now have a place to call home. The facility is neither fresh in existence nor entirely new to the world of sports. It was formerly known as the NOC-K Plaza.
Undoubtedly, the commissioning of Talanta Plaza ascertains the government's commitment to the development of sports in the country.
During the unveiling ceremony, President William Ruto emphasised the importance of the building in advancing the Talanta Hela objective —identifying, growing, and monetising the large pool of talent in Kenya.
The government plans to turn the plaza into a control tower for all ministry departments, thereby streamlining service delivery.
We agree with the Council of Governors deputy chairman, Ahmed Abdullahi that Talanta Plaza is a beacon of hope that portends a better future for aspiring Kenyan youths.
Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jack Tuwei said the facility will host the Talanta Hall of Fame Walk, where photos of Kenya’s sports and arts legends will be exhibited.
The government should leverage the plaza to coordinate sports activities in the country more effectively and get rid of the traditional hiccups that have plagued the industry in the past.
For instance, massive rent deficits have been causing local federations perennial headaches with quite a number being forced to shift their physical addresses a myriad of times.
The decision to house the federations is much welcome. Thus, the government should disclose the terms of its engagement with sports associations seeking shelter at Talanta Plaza.
It would be of interest to stakeholders to know if the federations will occupy the facilities free of charge or if they will have to pay for it.
Both the government and federations must live up to the tenets of integrity, transparency, and accountability. This is the minimum requirement local sports enthusiasts would demand from the two entities.
The government now has a perfect opportunity to monitor the activities of the federations from the plaza and keep an eye on them.
A good number of Kenyan sports associations are infamous for failing to comply with the Sports Act.
For instance, over the years, some rogue officials have deliberately frustrated efforts to hold free, fair, and democratic elections.
Relentless measures must be put in place to ensure none of the sitting officials use unorthodox means to extend their stay in office.
On numerous occasions, federation officials have advanced selfish interests at the expense of the people they are meant to serve. They have been known to thrive in the chaos that characterises federations such as delayed elections.
The existence of the Talanta Plaza should not be taken for granted given it has come a long way. The government invested close to Sh1 billion to salvage it from going under in 2020.
The idea to put up the Talanta Plaza could not have come at a better time. Hopefully, the government will put up branches in other counties to streamline operations.