Kenyan Sports

As a notably great sporting nation, Kenya has gained its reputation from birthing award-winning athletes who constantly scoop international awards and titles in various events inclusive of the Olympics. However, despite athletics being at the forefront of or sporting activities, there is so much more going on in the Kenyan sports scene that is not exposed to the outside world. For example, in rugby, it took Kenya a total of 140 tournaments to win a World Series leg, being the second African country after South Africa to hold such a title.

For the first time, Rugby Sevens will be featured in the Olympics. This will take place this year in Rio and Kenya already qualified in both the men’s and women’s events. Kenya qualified after defeating Fiji, opening at 20-0, with two out of four tries form Collins Injera. Fiji put up a good fight in the second half but the Kenyan squad held strong and went on to make two more tries, sealing the Kenyan victory. Kenya has made it to the seventh position in the standings after their Singapore 22-point haul against Fiji, claiming a spot above South Africa who were beaten by Fiji in the semi finals, finishing third.

Away from rugby, there is a new craze in the Kenyan sporting scene; betting. Nothing has ever taken root as fast as sport betting in the Kenyan sporting scene. This expensive activity took off and in no time became a sensation that took over the whole country. There are an estimated 23 companies at the moment in Kenya that have acquired a license to operate in the now lucrative gambling business. According to the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), there are also numerous other applications from upcoming companies that seek to join in this industry. Sports betting is the latest local sports passion, it can even be fun and exhilarating to make bets every once in a while but it is advisable for anyone who engages in the activity to ensure that they do not wind up being addicted.

However, despite this caution from gaming firms, the estimated 2 million sports betting participants in Kenya may already be addicted to the activity. So far, no study has estimated the value of sports betting in Kenya, probably because it is only now hitting its tipping point. Nonetheless, it is in agreement with everyone, inclusive of cyber cafe operators that betting has heavily established itself among sports fans in the country. Gamers who do not have personal access to the internet will flood in cyber cafes to confirm upcoming games and place bets. The entry of international sports global betting giants such as Betways, which sponsors West Ham, an English Premier League club, as well as the Intralot Company from Greece, is an indication of the rate at which the sports betting industry is growing in the country. At the rate at which the sports betting industry has come up, it is hard to believe that the industry has remained so dormant for decades until last year; even our next door neighbors have had the business in operation for years now.

Again in the international sporting scene, Kenya has recently agreed to comply with anti-doping demands in order to allow the country's athletes to compete in the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had declared Kenya ‘non-compliant’ after it had missed two deadlines to make an indication on how it is curbing cheating in the sports sector. President Uhuru Kenyatta, however, recently passed an anti-doping law that will effectively prevent WADA, the International Olympic Committee from banning Kenyan athletes from the Games. The absenteeism of Kenya would imply that some of the world’s finest athletes would be missing out on the chance to showcase their talent and win medals at the Games. This is inclusive of David Rudisha, who would have been denied the chance to defend his 800m title, which he won in the 2012 London Games.

Note, Kenya topped the medal table during the World Athletics Championships held in Beijing, 2015; Kenya scooped seven gold medals. Wada had agreed after deliberations at their headquarters in Montreal that upon compliance, the Wada review committee would recommend that the foundation board revoke the Anti-Doping non-compliance status imposed on the country.

As part of that compliance, Kenya has introduced criminal laws in the Anti-Doping Bill, creating the National Testing Authority; making doping offences punishable by imprisonment. Wada made the demands for anti-doping compliance after 40 Kenyan athletes failed drugs over time since 2011. Wada has since commended Kenya for acting in good faith and demonstrating a commitment by implementing and enforcing anti-doping laws in the country. The agency has acknowledged that 80% of the laws in the Anti-Doping Bill comply with its code and as such, Kenyan athletes will be clear to compete in this year’s Olympic Games.

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