To ordinary Kenyans, news that rugby legend Benjamin Ayimba was in distress was not surprising. They have agonised over such news before. It cuts across all disciplines, be it athletics, boxing, football, cricket and indeed all sports.
The story of football legend the late Joe Kadenge was all over the place. All the photo-ops and social media coverage made all the noise about sportsmen and women in distress. Kadenge was just a symbol, a representative, a voice of these men and women who did duty for Kenya but are now down and out. They have hung their boots, gloves, spikes, bats, shin guards. They are in dire straits and crying for any act of ubuntu.
Imagine a situation where a Kenyan politician does ten years as an MP. That individual is entitled to a hefty pension after the same parliamentarians passed their own law. I can visualize an individual who joins parliament at 60 years and does two five-year terms until he clocks 70 years. He also enjoys all kinds of allowances during his ten year stint. He is able to buy a house or houses, a big four wheeler and has a generous medical cover that includes evacuation from Outer Mongolia if a war breaks out.
Kenyan sportsmen and women engaged in popular sports like football, rugby, athletics, boxing and cricket start serving the country when they are teenagers and continue until they hit the 30 year mark. They more or less serve for about ten years just like some MPs in parliament.
The difference is in how the country treats their retirement. Depending on the dictates of natural justice, the young sports star retires without money but with a longer future to take care of. The politician has lots of money but with a shorter future to enjoy the generous income. The young sports star has a young family to take care of when the retired pot bellied politician has grown children who are no longer depending on him.
The irony in how the two categories of Kenyans are perceived by our government is the reason why nowadays many sportsmen and women in distress. Apat from Benjamin Ayimba, we have John Nyawanga, Kenya’s captain during the 1972 Afcon tournament in Cameroon. He is diabetic and neglected. Allan Thigo, the first man to coach and play for a Kenyan club in a continental cup finals is on his own somewhere in the sugar belt. James Kadir Ogola, many years Harambee Stars left back, has visual impairment and is suffering from hip dislocation issues, a consequence of physical contacts in his playing days. No medical cover, no recognition, nothing. Maurice ‘Sonyi’ Ochieng, ex-police officer whose 26 goals in the 1976 season has never been broken to date is holed up in Seme Kisumu County. Sonyi’s home is within the radius of Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s home but I am sure it does not cause the mkubwa any sleepless nights. Maurice ‘Ole Tunda’ Ochieng also requires surgery on his hip joints. He is now disabled and is unable to walk straight, again the result of rough tackles from aggressive defenders during his playing days.
Steve Muchoki had no option but to retreat to his late parents home in Dandora. Suleiman Bilali and his brother Ibrahim Bilali are a pathetic sight around Muthurwa Kamukunji neighbourhoods. The late James ‘Demosh’ Omondi, Kenya’s heavyweight boxer who took part in the 1984 Olympics died destitute and it took a fundraising by Mbotela residents to even buy a coffin to bury him. The story of Henry Rono has been said in many platforms and is quite representative of retired athletes. If at all Rono was rewarded with a house, he would have somewhere to retreat to after coming back from the USA. The list is long.
What is certain is that even the current younger boys playing now shall join the list of neglected stars unless a miracle happens. What are some of the suggested solutions or ways out of this national embarrassment? The government can do the following to all sportsmen and women who represent Kenya in any sports discipline:
- Provide a comprehensive medical cover for all past and present stars
- Incorporate a comprehensive medical cover as a package to the presidential awards given out on Mashujaa Day
- Provide an affordable housing incentive to all stars get a call up to represent the country in the Olympic, Commonwealth, All Africa Games, AFCON and any other international championship games.
- Engage former stars in developing grass root or County sports programmes.