Athletes and coaches in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet county have formed a sacco to enable them invest for their future.
Over 200 members from this area dubbed the Home of Champions have registered an according to the sacco chairman Richard Kanda, it is also open to non-athletes.
Veteran athlete Mary Keitany urged the sportspeople from the area and especially the upcoming ones to join the sacco to secure their tomorrow.
Keitany regretted that many athletes are living in abject poverty despite making millions but lost the fortune because they lacked financial literacy to invest.
Cabinet Secretary for Sports Kipchumba Murkomen on Saturday while in Bukwo, Uganda attending the burial of Rebecca Cheptegei, an Olympian murdered in Kenya warned of swindlers preying on young, unsuspecting female athletes.
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Murkomen said they pose as coaches and once they lure their targets, they marry them to steal their money.
Attending the launch, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich said the sacco will unite the athletes to achieve financial literacy, psychosocial support, sensitisation on doping and Gender based violence while also achieving quality athletic training, contract management and brand management.
“It is encouraging that athletes have starting a savings and credit sacco-Iten Athletics Saving and Credit Co-operative Society Ltd to invest and gain financial knowledge” Rotich said.
