As we look back at the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where CTE Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria, and as we mourn the loss of global champion Kelvin Kiptum, we should recognise the profound impact that sport has had on the trajectory of our country.
As the former CEO of the 35th World Cross Country Championships held in Mombasa in 2007, I have seen firsthand how sport has revolutionized the economy, instilled positivity and transformed communities. Here are three key lessons Kenya can learn from to harness the potential of sport for economic and social development.
First, the recent Africa Cup of Nations finals showed that success in sport is not only about population size, but also about strategic planning and execution. For example, Nigeria, with a population of about 200 million, was defeated by Côte d'Ivoire, which has a population of about 25 million.
In addition, Cape Verde, a small island nation with a population of about 600,000, made it to the quarterfinals, showing that even countries with smaller populations can achieve great success in sports. This highlights the potential of sport to bring significant achievements to Kenya.
To realise this potential, Kenya should follow the example of the Cape and invest in sound sports infrastructure, coaching and talent development programmes, focusing on quality over quantity.
Secondly, the world record set by Kelvin Kiptum at the age of 24 shows that age is not an obstacle to movement. What really matters is unwavering focus and determination. Kenya has a large pool of young talent to be developed.
We must also make the most of the global sports tourism market, which is estimated at around $600 billion. My good friend Lornah Kiplagat and her husband Pieter have taken advantage of this through their High Altitude Training Center in Iten, which attracts athletes and sports tourists from all over the globe. I urge Ababu Namwamba, a competent sports cabinet minister, to seek broad advice on policies that will unlock the billions needed to replicate and elevate the achievements of Lorna and other sports personalities in Kenya.
Third, deliberately hosting local, regional and global sporting events can create jobs and boost the economy. This was evident when Mombasa hosted the World Cross Country Championships in 2007. The event transformed the city's economy, upgrading infrastructure and road networks such as Moi International Airport, refurbishing the Mama Ngina driveway and Mombasa Golf Club, and filling the hotel.
The event also made Mombasa popular across the globe, attracting more curious visitors. Obviously, while not all sports require expensive infrastructure, we must develop world-class facilities and increase the capacity of hotels to succeed in this arena.
The economic potential of sports is evident in the earnings of top athletes. According to Forbes, in 2021, the world's highest-paid athletes, such as Conor McGregor, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, earned between $70 million and $1$800 million. By creating an environment that supports sport, Kenya can produce talent who can compete at this level and bring significant economic benefits to the country.
In Eldoret, there are a number of real estate developments and hotel facilities owned by current and former athletes, showing that investing in sports talent can yield a significant return on investment. We should encourage investors to consider investing in the systematic development of sports talent.
In honour of our late champion, William Ruto** instructed the construction of a three-bedroom house within seven days of his burial in Naibery next Friday. This swift action exemplifies what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called "this is a very urgent time."
I encourage the sports community to embrace this sense of urgency and transform sport into a pillar of the economy. Both the private sector and the private sector must act now to move sport from the sidelines to the centre of the economy.