'We need to sort out our issues' - Athletics Kenya official laments over mistrust between athletes & federation

Barnaba Korir Facebook

'We need to sort out our issues' - Athletics Kenya official laments over mistrust between athletes & federation

Evans Ousuru 14:37 - 07.11.2024

Athletics Kenya boss Barnaba Korir has explained how the mistrust between athletes and federation is hampering the working relations between the two parties.

Athletics Kenya Nairobi region chairman Barnaba Korir has lamented over the widening mistrust certain athletes have towards the federation.

Korir, who doubles up as the federation's director of youth development, says the lack of confidence has adversely affected the good working relationship between the groups.

Speaking during an engagement forum with athletes living and training in Ngong, Koriri said: "How are we supposed to work together when there is mistrust between the athletes and the federation?" while challenging the athletes to avoid venting their frustrations on social media. 

"We exist to serve you…without you (athletes), there is nothing we are doing in that office. We need to sort out our trust issues rather than demonising the federation on social media,” Korir explained. Korir further dismissed the notion that there are cartels in the federation, terming the criticism unfair.

"You can find assistance in AK but some of you, your minds have been poisoned to think there are cartels in the federation,” he said. Korir noted that Gender-Based Violence in Kenyan athletics has become a matter of concern globally and needs to be dealt with appropriately.

He also expressed hope that the campaign against GBV will extend to other sectors of the society. "We have been in New York and had discussions with various people who have expressed concerns over the increasing cases of GBV. The world is looking at Kenya to see how we are going to resolve this issue,” he said.

"We hope that this campaign will have ripple effects in other parts of the society because GBV affects the society as a whole,” Korir observed.