Michael Mundia Kamau
 P.O. Box 17510
 Nairobi
   Kenya
 15th October 2000
 
   IS MARWA
 
Kenya's lukewarm performance at the Sydney 2000 Olympic games further 
necessitates the need for an overhaul in sports administration in this 
country. Two gold medals are simply not good enough for a country like 
ours which has a vast reservoir of running talent and experience. Kenya's 
potential at Sydney was 12 gold medals. Full credit however goes to 
Ethiopia and Cameroon for bringing joy and pride to the African continent. The 
Ethiopians triumphantly edged us out in Sydney and this must serve as a 
wake up call.
 
Sport continues to grow into a bigger and bigger business the world 
over and there is every reason for us to cash in and not be left behind. Many of 
the barriers preventing sporting progress in Kenya are easily identifiable 
and need to be broken down. Our forte still remains in athletics which is 
administered by the Kenya Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA), a body 
more renowned for it's running battles, than it's running exponents. KAAA's 
short history is mired by controversy and acrimony, and it is a miracle that 
Kenya continues to do well in world meets. For instance, KAAA was involved in 
a bitter and unnecessary selection dispute just before the Sydney games, 
that resulted in it's being taken to court and it's suffering a humiliating 
defeat. Just before the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games, KAAA was also at 
the centre of controversy when it's secretary general was involved in a 
bitter exchange of words with the Kenyan Chief de mission, none other than the 
legendary Kipchoge Keino. Other controversies revolve around financial 
impropriety and sexual abuse. The latter could be the reason why Kenyan 
women athletes have failed to triumph on the Olympic stage.
 
As with most other matters in Kenya, these are some of the causes of 
sporting underdevelopment in this country that need to be addressed. It 
is ironic that despite of the joy and pride that athletics has brought to 
this country, it is still a long way off from being incorporated into our 
National heritage. Our athletes are only heroes and only gain 
recognition when they triumph on the world stage. After that they are consigned to 
oblivion like the rest of us. For instance, none of the 12 universities 
in Kenya have a scholarship scheme for athletes, and neither do lower 
colleges and schools. There is neither a pension scheme to cater for athletes on 
retirement. The Kenyan parliament voted itself a generous pension 
package last year enabling members of parliament to qualify for pension even 
after serving only one five year term. There is no such scheme for Kenyan 
athletes.KAAA does not solely come in for criticism because the administration 
of sports in Kenya in general, is in the doldrums. Soccer administration 
for instance lacks a long-term structure, and this has resulted in erratic 
inconsistent performances. There is also a vast wealth of soccer talent 
in this country that is not being harnessed. Many Africans including 
myself have fond, nostalgic memories of the 1990 soccer world cup where 
Cameroon triumphantly made it to the quarterfinals. The team that partly 
comprised of Roger Milla, Cyrille Makanaky, Thomas Nkono, Francois Omam Biyik, Andre 
Nkana Biyik, Richard Massing, Emmanuel Mbouh Mbouh, Mfede and Mabuong, 
brought pride and joy to the continent. One of the main reasons behind 
Cameroon's success in the 1990 world cup was the fact that many of 
their players played in European leagues, and even then, not first division 
sides Cyrille Makanaky for instance, then played for a third division French 
side, yet his performance in both the 1990 world cup and the 1990 Africa cup 
of nations was outstanding. We must also be challenged to encourage many 
of our players to play in Europe. At present, it is only Mike Okoth who is 
playing first division soccer in Belgium.
 
Another soccer game that is remembered with nostalgia, is the 
quarterfinal match between France and Brazil in the 1986 soccer world cup, when 
dazzling soccer skills were on display. I recall watching a similar provincial 
soccer game between Ofafa Jericho secondary school and Jamhuri high school in 
1983 in what was known as "carpet" football in those days. Those were the 
days when Kakamega high school reigned supreme on the National school's 
soccer scene and the days when our soccer clubs were known for playing the 
ball in the air, as opposed to "carpet". It goes to show the amount of talent 
that has gone to waste in this country, and continues to go to waste. The 
last commendable performance by a Kenyan side in soccer was in 1987 when Gor 
Mahia F.C. won the continental, though second string, Africa Cup 
Winners Cup.
 
Boxing is another sport in dire straits. Nothing confirms this more 
than the fact that two Kenyan boxers absconded from the Kenyan contingent to the 
Sydney Olympics and are still being sought by Australian authorities. 
The two boxers cited all manner of frustrations. This is a far cry from the 
glorious days of Kenyan boxing when the team was known as the 
"Hit-squad" and had to it's credit several triumphs such as the King's cup in 
Bangkok, and Africa's one and only Olympic gold medal in boxing in the 1988 
Seoul Olympic games, won by the late Robert Wangila Napunyi. Credit also goes 
to boxers that existed before Napunyi's time such as Dick Tiger Murunga, 
Stephen Muchoki and Ibrahim Bilali.
 
Progress however has been made in diversification and immediate 
commendation goes to Kenyan cricket for attaining test status and for hosting the 
just concluded high profile International Cricket Council (ICC), mini world 
cup in Kenya. It was a great honour to have world class players like Sachin 
Tendulkar of India on Kenyan soil. Jacob Okello also deserves high 
commendation for emerging as runner up in the high profile Kenya Open 
golf tournament in 1998. These are Kenyan accomplishments to be proud of.
 
We should also emulate our neighbours the Ugandans, who appear to have 
a sound sports policy. It is common to see different Ugandan sporting 
disciplines window shopping on the streets of Nairobi while on transit 
to sports meets in Europe and North America. In 1998 for instance, there 
was a weightlifting tournament in the little known pacific island of Nauru, 
which Uganda attended. The organisers were so impressed and moved by the 
attendance of the little known Ugandan weightlifters from far off 
Africa, that they met all they bills for accommodation and meals. It is this 
kind of resolve that we need to build into ourselves.
 
Strength is in diversification and we need to diversify our approach to 
Nation building in order to create opportunities for as many Kenyans as 
possible. Sport is one avenue of attaining the desired diversification. 
Patriotism in this country is at a record low, thanks to a warped 
System that is incapable of delivering service to the people. It is crucial 
that we take up the calling of Kenyan musical duo, "GidigidiMajimaji", in their 
latest CD, "IS MARWA", meaning "it is ours". The title "IS MARWA" 
represents an apt fusion of the old and the new, "is" from English, and "marwa" 
from the Luo language meaning, "ours". At least two interpretations can be 
read into "IS MARWA". One is that Kenya is our country, and the other is 
that we need to fuse our different cultures, talents and abilities to develop 
this country. Part of this fusion is sport.
 
This country is in deep trouble and tangible solutions for the future 
need to be sought and defined. The Kenyan system is crumbling fast and the 
two terrifying words in common usage nowadays are "staff retrenchments". It 
is a tragedy that we continue to insist on doing things the age old way even 
as we witness the collapse of the system before our very eyes.
 
Many of us still desperately subscribe to the beliefs of a system that 
has hopelessly let us down. Many of us are making the same mistakes that 
our parents made. Many of us were told to go to school for a better future 
and many of us are still desperately yearning for that better future. Let 
us not stop going to school, but let us also create tangible alternatives for 
ourselves, and dispense with the notion that formal education and 
formal employment, are the one and only means to a bright future. If running a 
marathon will put food on the table, then let us run marathons and run 
them well. If playing soccer will pay the school fees, then let us play 
soccer and play it well.
 
Many of us are under the illusion that the much-heralded change will 
come about by way of a grand and instantaneous event, which is not the case. 
This country is already undergoing the crucial process of change and those 
who will be at the forefront in 20 years to come, will be those who hard 
the foresight, character, strength and determination to be innovative and 
pickthe signs of the time. That time is now.
 
 
 
 
Michael Mundia Kamau