Lamu youths have implored the national government to allocate more funds towards building stadiums in a bid to nurture sporting talent within the coastal county.
Speaking during a sports stakeholder’s forum hosted by Muslim Women for Advancement of Rights and Protection, Lamu County Sports Director Peter Ndichu revealed that the county government had already begun making substantive efforts towards building football turfs across the county.
“So far the county has spent Sh50 million towards upgrading of seven key sporting infrastructure projects three of which include a seven-a-side Astroturf pitches at Twaif which is complete,” said Ndichu.
He further stated that the county government had already set aside Sh14 million for completion the ongoing Shella and Lamu Boys Secondary School pitches.
He also disclosed that the construction of the Mpeketoni’s Muungano and Lamu Island’s Twaif basketball courts are also ongoing at a cost of Sh1.5 million each.
However, work on the two pitches has yet to begin with youths questioning the county willingness to support sports within the county.
“The county government has for long used sports as a political tool, especially with regards to football, where the same is not properly instituted despite there being immense talent as well as strong teams across the county to hold up a league,” Lamu Social Justice Representative Zeinab Ahmed stated.
MWARP Lamu Coordinator Umulkher Ahmed stated that the Governor Football Cup tournament has been in decline despite there being immense interest from local youths over the contest, due to its sporting impact within the county.
Sentiments echoed by Lamu Women Alliance activists and former footballing prodigy Ahmed Famau who stated that the county needs to invest more towards sporting talent in a bid to tackle social vices such as drugs and violent extremism.
“The county government has failed to allocate adequate resources towards sports and cultural activities, which has seen the decline of a sector that should be thriving, despite there being a wide array of local talent,” Famau stated.
However, contacted for comment, the county sports county executive Paul Thairu said, “Internal discussions have already been done and subject to budgetary allocation, monies will be apportioned towards identifying two sites in Lamu East and West Sub-Counties, where stadiums will be constructed to international standards.”
However, Faza Action Group Programme Officer Jaffar Masoud faulted the county government for reallocating resources meant for improving sports towards other sectors.
“The Lamu County needs to realize that sports as a sector has a lot of potential the same way the marathon runners have had a positive impact in Eldoret,” Masoud stated, adding that sporting when properly harnessed is capable of providing job opportunities for hundreds of local youths.
