Nandi County governor Stephen Sang has urged the government through the ministry of sports to allow elite athletes to travel on diplomatic passports to avoid unnecessary embarrassment to athletes who are on mission to represent or market the across the world.
Sang said that athletes were great ambassadors who have helped to brand Kenya and they need to be appreciated by providing them with the VIP travel documents.
“We have had many cases of Kenyan athletes missing flights to various destinations, not just their problem but the issue of passports even while heading to represent the country at global stages,” said Sang.
He revisited the saga that involved many Kenyans led by Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omurwa Omanyala who missed to travel on time to compete for the country at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA.
“Look at what happened with Omanyala, he is a great athlete in this country but missing out on a mission to represent the country was a shame. Our elite athletes have made a huge impact on our country and its time they were issued with diplomatic passports. Not just Omanyala but other athletes. Am even told some did not make it for the championships,” said Sang.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba who was at the meeting promised to ensure elite Kenyan athletes have their ordinary passports replaced with diplomatic ones.
“With your request governor, I would table at cabinet, requesting if approved, immigration department would be requested to issue them to the runners.,” said Namwamba