Athletes receive upkeep package.

1800 Kenyan sportsmen and women have been targeted by the local sports ministry to help them in the fight against the covid-19 pandemic and poverty

The Sports Ministry intends on distributing food parcels across the country to sportsmen in need during the covid-19 pandemic period. However, 600 sportsmen and children have been reached by the ministry. This is according to Amina Mohammed who is the Sports Cabinet Secretary.

Amina confirmed that the government had set aside Sh5o million to cushion sportsmen and women from covid-19 effects. 12 kenyan premier league clubs  were first to benefit from the initial  release of Sh2o million stimulus.

Amina said they were working with other partners and she commended their Care Package Partners who were giving all they could to help sustain the lives of workers. Amina says they had already received Sh20 million from both private and private sectors to help them during the pandemic.

“We shall continue with these initiatives until Covid-19 eases and the sporting calendar reopens,” said Amina, who was accompanied by Sports Principal Secretary Joe Okudo and Care Package founder Jackie Janmohammed.

Chairman of the Kenya Rugby Oduor Gangala and National Paralympic Paralympic Committee was also present to support what was being done for the sportsmen. Harambee Starlets, national cricket team, national deaf team and Paralympics Kenya Lionesses also benefited from this donation.

“The packages could be seen as small but we hope it will cushion them for some days and it’s my hope that more partners will come on board,” said Janmohammed, who was among Kenyans who were conferred with the Wazalendo Award on Madaraka Day by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Janmohammed largely said she wished the donation would not be a once-off thing. She also added that they had reached out to 6 000 families in the last two months.

“Most of these players derive their livelihood from rugby and that has been disrupted. Every one of them is fighting to make ends meet,” said Gangla, who also thanked cubs that are supporting their respective players at these difficult times.