The national government has concluded preparations for the construction and completion of Kamariny Stadium in Iten Elgeyo Marakwet County and will soon announce the tender for the same.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba said the government will construct an elite training camp around the stadium such that the county will have a stadium plus a training camp.
Speaking in Iten when he officiated the 2nd edition of Iten Marathon, the CS said his ministry will also renovate the Iten sportsground to offer sportsmen and women a sports facility.
Namwamba said the government was keen on developing talents to enable youth earn a living, and that was why it started the Talanta Hela, saying that starting next year, the Talanta Hela will fully support the Iten Marathon as one way of supporting youths to earn from their talents.
Noting that the county has produced great athletes who have continued to bring honour to the country, Namwamba said his ministry will ensure that the Iten marathon will be promoted to the status of the New York and Boston marathons, among others.
The CS warned training camps engaging in doping that the government would take stern action against them, saying that the vice was the greatest threat to the country’s proud sporting heritage.
“These days, if a Kenyan breaks a record, it takes long before he or she can be declared a record holder because it has to be verified since all Kenyan athletes are being treated as suspects,” he said.
The CS vowed to ensure that the country wins the war on doping, saying he won’t allow some unscrupulous people to mess with the country’s strong athletic tradition.
Namwamba added that the government was determined to ensure that the athletes are treated with the honour they deserve, saying his ministry will ensure that they get diplomatic passports and also that they travel in comfort as they represent the country in various races globally.
He added that all sports stadiums in the country will be named after the athletes in recognition of the honour they have brought to the country, saying the renaming of Kericho Stadium after the late Wilson Kiprugut Chumo was just the beginning.
In the 42km race men, Luke Kiprop won the race in 2:13;19 followed by Charles Kimeli in 2:14:26, while Edwin Yator came in third in 2;14;45.
Miriam Chebet won the 10km women’s race in 32.53, Christine Chesire came in second in 33.09, and Chemutai Belinda was third in 33.18.
By Alice Wanjiru and Blessed Kemboi
