Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Wesley Korir has called for the closure of some athletics training camps to prevent vulnerability and unwanted exposure of junior athletes.
Speaking in Nandi County over the weekend, Korir said that there is a need for organisers and sponsors to come in handy to support initiatives to empower the girl child in the country.
He called on the stakeholders to be part of the solution, not crying all the blame over some of the ills.
“We should not wait and be the crying people. Let’s be the solution. We want to raise these girls and motivate them, nurture them as young as they are to better their lives. As a ministry and government, this is a good event that we can copy and correspond to other counties. This should not be here only and invited girls from all over the country should be invited to participate not only leave our girls behind but bring them up together,” said the former Boston marathon champion.
The double Los Angeles marathon champion added that the program really falls under the Talanta Hela manifesto, which was suspended by the high court for identification and monetization of sports.
“This is one way of nurturing talents. If you see these kids run, you see a champion. Education is exciting. For me I am excited to see education because this is the key,” he said.
With girls’ vulnerability, Korir said that they are working with all stakeholders in sports that girls or kids stay in school to make sure that no girl is out of school.
“We want them in school until they finish high school when they are mature enough to make their independent decision. No junior will be allowed to compete for junior championships unless they are under a school. So all junior camps that are outside schools should be closed,” he said.
“All senior training camps should not have juniors. All juniors should be under schools, training under the school and we are going to set up centres of excellence in high schools so that our girls and our students should stay in school to finish high school and join senior schools.”