Readers have their say: What a missed opportunity to celebrate a double historic moment

A double historic moment, really! Not only did the Kenya Rising Lionesses win a gold medal in a team event, but they did so at the first-ever Youth Olympic Games hosted on African soil. What a missed opportunity to celebrate this achievement and showcase Kenya's emerging sporting talent and next-generation athletes!

Personally, this also raises a bigger question about the role of the Kenyan media in the country's sports ecosystem. The media is one of its most important stakeholders. Its responsibility goes beyond reporting results. It has a role in promoting, highlighting, entertaining, educating and building public interest in sport. Compare this with the space and attention English newspapers and tabloids give to sport, particularly during major competitions. It makes you question how seriously our media takes this responsibility in Kenya.

From a systems-thinking perspective, this is also about how the different parts of Kenya's sports ecosystem work together to build something bigger. Are we collectively, intentionally and strategically investing in the long-term, sustainable growth of Kenyan sport, or are we too focused on what each stakeholder can gain in the immediate term? Federations, government, schools, clubs, sponsors, communities and the media all have a role to play. Each must consider how its contribution strengthens the wider system.

To be clear, this is not to suggest that nothing positive is happening in Kenyan sport. There are encouraging initiatives and developments worth recognising. For example, Kenya Rugby Union's work in grassroots participation and youth and women's development; FKF's nationwide U15 talent identification programme; the Boxing Federation's Ndondi Mashinani initiative; the Kenya Academy of Sports' talent development camps across multiple disciplines; and private-sector initiatives such as SportPesa's Tujiamini, which supports grassroots athletes, teams and clubs.

These are important contributions. However, they are individual parts of a much bigger sporting ecosystem. The question is how we connect, strengthen and build on them to create a sustainable sports system.

This is where the media has a particularly important role to play. Beyond covering major competitions and celebrating medals, it can inform, educate, promote, and sensitise the public about the work happening across the ecosystem. It can connect initiatives, give visibility to emerging talent, highlight good practices, build public interest and help create an environment in which sport can grow.

We need to be more intentional about building a sustainable, future-proof sports ecosystem. One that develops talent, strengthens institutions, creates opportunities and retains value.

As much as we MUST celebrate sporting success when it happens, we, as a country, MUST also create the conditions in which more of it can happen.

- Zakayo Wandoloh, via LinkedIn

Give us the local angle to the deportees’ story

This was an interesting story. However, I believe it was written from an American perspective. The story states that these 52 people have been convicted of egregious offences such as fraud, murder, rape, drug trafficking, and robbery.

The story goes on to cite the US State Department’s spokesperson and shows data from the Department of Homeland Security, but fails to tell us what has become of them. When did they arrive? Are they free or incarcerated?

As a Kenyan consumer, I want to see a follow-up of the story from a Kenyan point of view.

- Maureen Githae, Nairobi

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