'Money won't be an issue'- Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen vows amid ADAK's controversial budget cut

Kipchumba Murkomen © Standard

'Money won't be an issue'- Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen vows amid ADAK's controversial budget cut

Stephen Awino 10:07 - 07.11.2024

The CS has assured that the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya won't suffer from financial difficulties in their fight against the doping menace following drastic budget cut.

The Kenyan government has promised increased support for the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) amid a budget crisis that has brought the agency's operations to a near standstill.

Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, announced the ministry’s commitment to ensuring ADAK’s functionality despite the drastic budget cuts imposed by the National Treasury.

Earlier this year, ADAK’s budget for the 2024/25 financial year was slashed from Kshs 288 million to a mere Kshs 20 million.

The 93% reduction that has left the agency struggling to fulfill its mandate unable to maintain even its basic operations, threatening Kenya’s compliance with global anti-doping standards.

This funding crisis could have serious consequences, potentially leading to non-compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

A WADA non-compliance designation could result in Kenyan athletes being barred from international competitions, casting a shadow over Kenya’s globally renowned sports reputation.

In response, Murkomen has assured Kenyans that the Ministry of Sports is actively working to secure additional funds to restore ADAK’s financial health and prevent disruptions.

The CS on Wednesday emphasized that the government’s priority is to keep the agency fully operational.

"We are committed to making sure that the Anti-Doping Agency is working as it should and that there will be no day they suffer because of money," Murkomen stated via Citizen TV.

“If we are unable to achieve our goals, it will not be because of financial limitations. We have the capacity to cushion the agency financially.”

The Sports Ministry’s assurances offer some hope to the agency and the athletes it serves, but ADAK’s continued ability to enforce anti-doping measures depends on swift action to bridge the current funding gap.