Mvurya outlines govt measures to safeguard retired athletes
By Joel Masibo, September 23, 2026Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has outlined a raft of government measures aimed at improving the welfare of retired athletes and ensuring they have opportunities to remain active in the sports industry after their competitive careers.
Appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, to respond to Parliamentary questions on matters relating to Youth Affairs, the Creative Economy and Sports, Mvurya said the Government was working with various stakeholders to strengthen support for athletes beyond their competitive years.
“The government has undertaken various interventions through multi-stakeholder collaboration with sports federations, county governments, the Retired Athletes Welfare Association, and many others to bring forward measures,” Mvurya told the Senate.
Retired athletes welfare
The CS said one of the key interventions was creating employment and career transition opportunities for retired athletes, allowing them to use their experience and expertise in other areas of the sports sector.
His explanation comes at the moment when several, both retired and active athletes still languish in abject poverty despite flying the country’s flag high in international competitions, winning medals in different disciplines that have brought glory to the nation.
“Retired athletes are prioritized for roles in sports officiating, coaching, administration, and talent management,” he said.
Mvurya said the Government was also using former athletes in ambassadorial and goodwill roles, giving them opportunities to continue contributing to society while preserving their influence and legacy.
He cited former marathon world record holder Paul Tergat, Olympic marathon champion Tegla Loroupe and former 800m world record holder David Rudisha as examples of Kenyan sporting icons who have taken up ambassadorial roles.
“For example, Paul Tergat is a goodwill ambassador for the World Food Programme. Tegla Loroupe is a UN goodwill ambassador. David Rudisha is a World Athletics ambassador,” Mvurya said.
The CS also pointed to the legal framework governing the recognition and preservation of the legacy of Kenya’s sporting heroes.
“Kenya has a robust legal and institutional framework for preserving the legacy of its sports icons. The Kenya Heroes Act of 2014 is central to these efforts,” he said.
According to Mvurya, the Act established the National Heroes Council, which is responsible for identifying, vetting and recommending individuals for official recognition as national heroes and heroines, including outstanding sports personalities.
“The Council therefore evaluates the criteria, and they can award. Competitive monetary measures include documentation in national archives, public honours, integration into the educational curriculum, and sports tourism initiatives,” he added.
Beyond recognition and employment opportunities, Mvurya said the Ministry was developing a framework aimed at improving athletes’ financial security and preparing them for life after competitive sport.
“The Ministry is coming up with a National Sports Gratuity and Athlete Financial Security Framework through collaboration with many other organizations, including betting firms, aimed at educating athletes on the importance of long-term savings, investments, and welfare management,” he said.
The proposed framework is expected to focus on financial planning, savings and investment, with the Government seeking partnerships with stakeholders in the sports ecosystem to help athletes manage their earnings and prepare for retirement.
Mvurya’s remarks come amid continued attention on the welfare of Kenyan athletes, particularly the need to provide structured support during the transition from competitive sport to careers, business, coaching and other professional opportunities.
The Government’s approach, as outlined by the CS, combines employment opportunities, ambassadorial appointments, recognition of sporting achievements and financial education as part of efforts to provide athletes with support beyond their competitive careers.