Sports can be important for many reasons, including physical and mental health, social connections, and learning valuable life skills. As observed by Mazrui (1986), sport has made an indelible mark as a tool of socialization and reflection of the culture of the people.
Further, indulging in physical activity like sports improves your heart function, reduces the risks of diabetes, lowers tension and stress, and controls blood sugar.
Why Is the Professional Athlete’s Dream Dying in Kenya?
Kenya’s ambitions to nurture local sports talent through initiatives like the Talanta Hela Initiative face significant hurdles. Despite the promising launch of programs such as the National Sports Talent Camp and the Talanta Hela Football Tournament, inconsistent execution and delays have undermined their success. These setbacks are indicative of broader challenges facing the development of sports in the country, which continue to demoralize young aspiring athletes.
Unfinished and Inadequate Sports Facilities
As of August 2024, critical improvements to Kenya’s sports infrastructure are still underway, but delays have severely affected youth participation in sports. Renovations at major stadiums, such as Nyayo and Kasarani, are ongoing, with Kasarani expected to be completed by November 2024. However, the continued closure and unavailability of these venues have disrupted sporting activities.
Young athletes, lacking access to quality facilities, are losing interest and motivation to pursue sports seriously. Kipchoge Keino Stadium, which is undergoing essential upgrades for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), also suffers from delays that hamper regular sports activities, further diminishing youth engagement.
Talanta Stadium in Nairobi is a new addition to Kenya’s sports landscape, designed to prepare the country for AFCON 2027. Yet, its completion is not anticipated until December 2025, and there is widespread scepticism due to the country’s history of construction delays. These ongoing infrastructure issues play a significant role in the declining interest among Kenyan youth in pursuing sports, highlighting the critical need for timely project completion to reignite passion and participation in sports. An example of projects that have not been started include the over 220 million shilling Isiolo Stadium, which trended after the Anti Finance Bill Protests of June 2024. This also highlights the staggering level of corruption within the country.
Another major reason young people in Kenya lose interest in sports is the lack of visible role models and inspiration within the country.
2. Lack of Role Models and Visibility
Another major reason young people in Kenya lose interest in sports is the lack of visible role models and inspiration within the country. Many successful athletes, including world-renowned marathoner Eliud Kipchoge, leave Kenya to advance their careers abroad. While these athletes achieve global fame, their absence from the local scene means that young aspiring athletes in Kenya have few opportunities to interact with or learn from them directly. Kipchoge, for example, spends much of his time training and competing overseas due to lucrative sponsorships and better training facilities, limiting his direct influence on the next generation of Kenyan athletes. This trend creates a void in consistent mentoring and role modelling, which is crucial for inspiring young athletes to pursue sports seriously. The lack of prominent local athletes actively involved in their communities further exacerbates the issue, making it difficult for young people to see a clear pathway to success in sports within Kenya.
In sports already struggling with limited infrastructure and support, the absence of visible role models only deepens the challenge of sustaining youth interest and participation. As Brian Omondi, a rising footballer from Mukuru Wa Njenga, is quoted as saying, “some people want to be a superstar and make all the money, but soon they realize it is very difficult.”
Read: Brian Opidi: Inspiring Journey of Resilience and Success in Football
3. Cultural, Economic, and Social Factors
In addition to infrastructure and role model challenges, cultural, economic, and social factors also play a significant role in the declining interest in sports among Kenyan youth. In many regions of Kenya, sports are still considered secondary to academic success, with parents and communities often encouraging young people to focus on their studies rather than athletic pursuits. This mindset discourages young athletes from dedicating time and effort to sports, especially when they face additional pressures to succeed academically.
Economic hardships further compound the issue, as many young Kenyans are forced to prioritize work and education over sports to support their families or secure their futures.
Economic hardships further compound the issue, as many young Kenyans are forced to prioritize work and education over sports to support their families or secure their futures. The unpredictability of a career in sports, coupled with the lack of infrastructure and support, makes sports a less viable option for many young people. As a result, the dream of becoming a professional athlete often fades in the face of these challenges, leading many to abandon their aspirations and focus on more traditional career paths.
These combined factors—unfinished sports facilities, a lack of visible role models, and cultural and economic pressures—create a challenging environment for young athletes in Kenya. To reverse this trend and revive the dream of becoming a professional athlete, Kenya must address these issues by improving sports infrastructure, retaining and promoting local role models, and providing more robust support systems for young athletes. Only then can the professional athlete’s dream thrive in Kenya once more.
