Elgeyo Marakwet: It is the dream of many young people in Elgeyo Marakwet, referred to as the Home of Champions, to follow in the footsteps of the many world champions that the county has produced over the years. The champions inspire the youth to live the athletic dream of not only conquering the world but also running away from poverty to the flashy lifestyle. However, while many of the youngsters have the potential to achieve this dream and may even become better, their dream is being killed by coaches and managers who start exploiting them while still young.

According to Kenya News Agency, the secretary of the County Secondary School Sports Association, Christopher Sitienei, revealed that during secondary school sports competitions, many coaches show up with the primary aim of identifying talents. “Being coaches, they are well placed to identify young athletes who have the potential to be world champions,” he said. Once identified, Sitienei noted, the coaches approach the young athletes without involving their teachers and lure them by promising to train them to become great athletes. The coaches, he added, go as far as their homes, where they rope in the parents to make the deal appear genuine.

Sitienei cited the case of a boy who was in form two and was poached by a coach to participate in road races in Japan without the school’s knowledge. He lamented that after signing contracts, the young athletes often find themselves estranged from their teachers, who had been coaching them all along. “The coaches exploit their innocence and vulnerability and poison their minds against their teachers, as they don’t want them to be around to guide them,” Sitienei explained. He added that the exposure to money at a young age leads some students to become rude and less interested in pursuing their education.

The issue extends beyond financial exploitation, as Sitienei highlighted cases of sexual abuse in training camps. He called on training camps not to mix young girls with senior athletes, as some are lured and sexually abused, resulting in pregnancies. Sitienei urged the government to implement measures ensuring a smooth transition from secondary school to junior and eventually senior athletes, emphasizing the importance of education alongside athletic pursuits.

Prof. Byron Kipchumba, a coach and camp manager, echoed the call for prioritizing education alongside talent development. He warned against minors being taken abroad under dubious contracts, which often do not protect them. “It is sad to hear that our children are taken abroad to run races they are not supposed to under dubious contracts because if they get hurt, they are abandoned,” Kipchumba said. He stressed that education helps athletes manage their income and provides an alternative if their athletic career is cut short.

County Sports Director Patrick Wabende condemned the participation of minors in road races and marathons, stating such practices burn them out before they can realize their full potential. He announced plans to implement the sports act in the county to ensure only certified coaches operate, aiming to protect young athletes from exploitation.

Paul Masese from the Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance (CEDGG) urged training camps to incorporate Standard Operating Procedures to safeguard against sexual exploitation and harassment. This, he said, would assure athletes of their safety, dignity, and justice.