By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 9 July 2026 - Presidential hopeful Eliud Owalo has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform sport into a major economic pillar, promising heavy investment in infrastructure, talent development and athlete welfare as part of his vision to position Kenya among Africa's leading sporting nations.
Speaking during the launch of the People's Prosperity Party (PPP), Owalo said Kenya had excelled globally in athletics but had yet to fully exploit the economic potential of its wider sports industry.
"Sport is more than competition. It is an industry capable of creating employment, attracting investment, promoting tourism and inspiring national unity. Kenya must invest in sports as a driver of economic growth," he said.
His blueprint proposes the construction of three modern indoor basketball arenas in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, alongside the establishment of grassroots talent development centres across the country to nurture young athletes from an early age.
Owalo also pledged to build at least two world-class high-altitude athletics training centres benchmarked against the best international facilities to consolidate Kenya's dominance in middle- and long-distance running.
The presidential hopeful set ambitious performance targets across several disciplines, saying his administration would work towards qualifying Kenya for the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
He also committed to ensuring both the men's and women's national rugby teams qualify for future Rugby World Cups while positioning Kenya among Africa's top five basketball nations.
Under his plan, Kenya would also target qualification for the 2028 and 2032 Olympic basketball tournaments and support a local club to compete successfully in the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Recognising the welfare challenges facing retired athletes, Owalo pledged to establish a national medical insurance and pension scheme for former sportsmen and women who represented Kenya in international competitions.
"Those who bring glory to our country should not retire into poverty. We must guarantee dignity and security for athletes who dedicate their lives to flying Kenya's flag on the global stage," he said.
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Beyond elite competition, Owalo said his administration would encourage sports entrepreneurship by supporting investments in sports tourism, professional leagues, sports medicine, event management, equipment manufacturing and youth academies.
He argued that expanding the sports economy would generate employment for coaches, referees, physiotherapists, fitness professionals, event organisers, broadcasters, marketers and hospitality businesses.
Sports economists have increasingly identified the sector as an emerging contributor to national economic growth, particularly through tourism, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, merchandising and infrastructure development.
While Kenya remains a global athletics powerhouse, analysts say investment in football, rugby, basketball and indoor sports has lagged behind many competing African nations because of inadequate infrastructure, governance challenges and limited commercial investment.
They note that modern sports facilities and structured talent development programmes could help diversify Kenya's sporting success while creating new economic opportunities for young people.
However, experts caution that achieving the ambitious targets outlined by Owalo would require sustained public investment, stronger sports governance, increased private sector participation and effective management of national sports federations.
With sports increasingly recognised as both a social and economic asset, Owalo's proposals seek to elevate the sector from recreational activity to a strategic industry capable of creating jobs, generating revenue and strengthening Kenya's international profile.
As the race towards the 2027 General Election gathers momentum, his sports agenda is likely to resonate with millions of young Kenyans who view athletics and other sporting disciplines as pathways to employment, national pride and economic opportunity.