- Sports PS Elijah Mwangi says university athletics competitions could nurture talent while generating economic opportunities.
- He argues that universities, particularly those with adequate land, can develop stronger sporting programmes.
- The call came during the second Meru University Mt. Kenya Mountain Run at Marimba Campus.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has been challenged to consider introducing national and international athletics competitions across Kenyan universities to nurture talent and improve the economic status of both institutions and surrounding communities.
Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi said if athletics competitions are introduced in universities, the move could positively transform institutions and their communities because the finances generated would trickle down to residents.
The PS said participation in and exposure to such events would also help learners nurture sporting talent.
Speaking during the second edition of the Meru University Mt. Kenya Mountain Run at Marimba Campus in South Imenti Constituency, Meru County, Mwangi urged education stakeholders to support such an initiative, saying it could also attract foreign exchange. The run was held on September 5 and focused on education, cancer research and environmental conservation.
“I urge the Education Ministry to consider introducing national and international athletics competitions in all Kenyan universities. Such a move will massively assist in nurturing talent and improving the economic status of our universities, with many located in rural areas. I am sure if athletics competitions are introduced in our universities, the move will positively transform the institution and the community. This is because the finances will automatically trickle down to the residents,” Mwangi said.
Mwangi said many universities have plenty of land and encouraged the institutions to introduce more co-curricular activities that would allow such competitions to take place on their campuses.
The PS advised universities to seek tax relief from the National Treasury by requesting the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury to offer tax waivers to enable institutions of higher learning to benefit more from the services they provide to the country and surrounding communities.
Mwangi also highlighted the government’s investment in sports infrastructure, saying 32 stadiums were under development across the country and pointing to Talanta Sports City as part of the wider investment in sporting facilities.
President William Ruto has similarly stated that the government is constructing 32 stadiums across the country to strengthen sports infrastructure and nurture talent.
Mwangi promised to give priority to the proposed sports academy at Mitunguu Technical Training Institute following consultations with the institution’s management.
“We have donated Sh8.5 million for the Meru University Mt. Kenya Run. The funds will be used to pay for the awards and trophies. The prize money will be credited to the winners’ accounts where the athlete can access it directly. Every kilometre you run is meant for the needy children. That is why I urge you to support the initiative since education is the key to future success,” Mwangi said.
Mugambi backs Marimba Campus expansion
On his part, Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi pledged government support for plans to expand Marimba Campus and enable it to operate as a standalone institution.
Mugambi said the plans require an additional 50 acres of land for expansion. His support for the 50-acre requirement has also been reported by the Kenya News Agency.
“Let me assure the residents that the dream of Marimba University Campus being elevated to a fully fledged university will become a reality soon. The government is set to hive off an extra 50 acres of land from the Mount Kenya forest to elevate the institution. I promise that this will be attained during President Ruto’s term in office,” Mugambi said.
He said it was important to support needy learners in the community, tackle cancer and conserve forests through tree planting, insisting that the goals should be pursued despite challenges.
Mugambi also urged residents to embrace tree planting and dairy farming as the rainy season approaches.
Meru County Commissioner George Omollo said the government would continue prioritising tree planting in learning institutions as part of efforts to meet the national target of 15 billion trees.
He lauded Meru University for considering a Cancer Research Centre and promised to create awareness in the community, insisting that prevention is better than cure.
“Once it is confirmed Meru is among the top-ranked in cancer menace, we shall start sensitising the community on how to prevent being infected instead of curing. Cancer is a menace that should be contained at all costs when the Cancer Research Centre becomes operational,” Omollo said.
University eyes cancer research and conservation
Meru University Vice Chancellor Prof Romanus Odhiambo said environmental conservation was also in focus, with the university seeking to build on a tree-planting programme it has undertaken over the years.
Odhiambo linked the initiative to President William Ruto’s target of planting and growing 15 billion trees, noting that it would contribute towards achieving the target.
He pointed to changes at Nchiru Campus as an example of the progress the university had made, saying the institution had sustained tree planting there for more than a decade.
“When we started some 13 or 14 years ago, Nchiru Campus was basically a desert. But today, we are actually at over 15 per cent forest cover, from a desert to over 15 per cent, above the national average,” Odhiambo said.
The Vice Chancellor said the conservation initiative would continue, noting that the university council had encouraged the institution to sustain its tree-planting activities every year.
“As professors in the university, we have decided that we want to do research, first of all, to confirm whether this hypothesis is true or not,” Odhiambo said.
He added that part of the money raised through the Mountain Run would facilitate the proposed research. If the findings confirm the concerns, the university intends to establish a cancer research centre to help confront the challenge. MUST’s plans to pursue cancer research through proceeds from the Mountain Run have been independently reported.
The cancer research initiative has also received support from the university council.
MUST Council Chairman Prof James Kanya said the council welcomed the idea, noting that cancer remained a serious concern requiring attention.
“When this idea was brought before the council, it was readily accepted, and my council gave it their support because we understand the problem of cancer,” Kanya said.
Kanya said the institution was also looking beyond its own capacity as it seeks to advance the initiative, adding that there were potential partners the university expected to work with in future.
“Soon, Meru University is going to be a beacon of hope for this because we have people whom we are going to collaborate with in future, and this is the way to go,” Kanya said.
The initiative also attracted support from the Meru County Government, with CECM for Youth Affairs, Sports, Gender and Social Development Elias Murega emphasising the need for continued collaboration with the university.
Murega said the county government, in partnership with Africa Now Mountain Run Initiative (AMRI), was working towards connecting mountain runs across East Africa.
He said preparations for another event would begin on October 4.
According to Murega, bringing the runs together would provide a wider platform for championing environmental conservation. He also welcomed the university’s decision to pursue research into cancer.
“We really appreciate Meru University on matters of cancer because we are among the counties with a high burden of cancer. That shows Meru University has a thought for us, and even as the county government, we must continue to partner,” Murega said.
Murega called on other partners to join efforts to address the disease, saying its economic burden in Meru was rising.
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He maintained that tackling the challenge would require collective action involving the university, county government and other partners.
By John Majau
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