Kenyan Athletes: Running away from their problems to a better future

In the running world, it’s common knowledge that runners from Kenya are widely regarded as the most elite on the planet. However, what is less commonly known is the tendency for Kenyan athletes to leave their country for better circumstances or a fatter paycheck. These defector athletes have garnered hatred from their nation, as they are seen as despicable, money-hungry traitors who have forsaken Kenya's pride. The threat of a future of Kenyan athletes winning titles wearing other countries’ uniforms looms large over the country. Yet, most of these athletes have impoverished families, are poached illegally at a young age like an animal, or are simply human beings in search of a better life. 

Kenyan athletes have a long history of leaving their native country to compete for other, richer countries, which are most often affluent Middle-Eastern countries (IAAF).  These countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, and Turkey, have commonly grown rich in the oil industry and seek to recruit Kenyan athletes in order to become influencers in the world of athletics (IAAF). These countries have been successful at gaining many Kenyan athletes, who fully commit to the Arabian lifestyle by changing their name to fit the culture, such as former Kenyan Steeplechaser Saif Saaeed, who took world championship titles for Qatar in 2003 and 2005 (Money). Kenyan born Yusuf Saad Kamel, who was originally named Gregory Konchellah, has taken bronze and gold medals in the Berlin World Championships, all under the representation of Bahrain (Kenyans Raise). 

These rich countries have been able to provide the athletes who transfer there with increased paychecks, which to some athletes, means a better life for themselves and their loved ones. The Kenyan government has even acknowledged that they lack the proper funds for their athletes. In 2019, the Kenyan government stated they owe 2.3 million dollars of the award money to their athletes – dating as far back to 2012 London Olympic Games (Kenyans dominate). For Kenyan steeplechaser Ruth Jebet, his transfer to Bahrain was sealed with the promise of getting a better life for his mother, who had lived her life in deep poverty (IAAF).

However, not all of these defector athletes have had success and commitment to the life change that they have made. In the year 2009 alone, six former Kenyan athletes who defected to Bahraini claimed that they were being denied their Kenyan passports when they asked to return to their former nationality (Kenyans Raise). One of those athletes was Yusaf Saad Kamel, who claimed his reasons for requesting his Kenyan nationality back were because of the “non-payment of bonuses earned in various races…  and non-respect of human rights” (Kenyans Raise). Kamel’s objection to the treatment of Kenyans refers to his experience of being treated as unequal to those of Bahraini nationality, which raises the concern that other Kenyan-born athletes could also be experiencing the same mistreatment but lack the courage to speak up. 

Steps have been taken to curb the rampant transfer of Kenyan athletes, however, as the International Association of Athletics Federations, or IAAF, placed restrictions on the age and the number of times an athlete may transfer (IAAF). Kenyan athletes now have to wait a period of three years after they apply for transferred citizenship in order to move. They may also only transfer once in their life after they have reached the age of 21 (IAAF). This plan was celebrated by Athletics Kenya, the main confederation of Athletics in Kenya, saying “it will help end the animosity and betrayal that has become rampant in the sport” (IAAF). For Kenya, the issue of their athletes winning medals representing other countries has a long future ahead of it, but the attitude towards those athletes has a possibility to be shifted, as Kenyan athletes also face many challenges by staying true to their Kenyan nationality.  

Works Cited:
“IAAF Lauds Doha 2019 Prep Work.” Gulf Times [Doha, Qatar], 12 Mar. 2019. Gale In Context: Global Issues, Accessed 2 Apr. 2020.
“Kenyans Dominate U.S. Team for World Cross Country Championships.” Xinhua News Agency, 7 Mar. 2019. Gale In Context: Global Issues,
“Kenyans Raise Defector Concerns.” Aljazeera.net, 8 Sept. 2009. Gale In Context: Global Issues, Accessed 2 Apr. 2020.
“Money Talks: How Qatari Athletics Imported Success.” Daily Telegraph [London, England], 10 Jan. 2011, p. 15. Gale In Context: Global Issues, Accessed 2 Apr. 2020.
“WHAT MAKES KENYAN RUNNERS CLICK.” Qatar Tribune [Doha, Qatar], 21 May 2013. Gale In Context: Global Issues, Accessed 2 Apr. 2020