Why Safaricom should sponsor our football

Acompany in the rankings of Safaricom should be given rights to fully sponsor our local football leagues if we are to outclass our neighbours. The government and other stakeholders should consider giving this opportunity like in Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa and Morocco whose clubs are performing well both in their leagues and on the international scene.

 Safaricom is among the most successful telecoms, not only in the country but almost the entire Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa trading bloc. The government and other relevant bodies should consider giving Safaricom full rights to drive our football league forward like the La Liga which is sponsored by the Santander Bank in Spain.

The advantage that comes with football being in association with a successful entity is that if the company sponsoring the football is successful, the football in that country almost automatically enjoys the same success.

The pact, if it ever happens, will allow Safaricom to reach out to talented players. Teams at grassroots lack the needed funding to ensure smooth operations. That is why some of them do not entirely play football as a profession but just for fun and engage in other profitable ventures like boda boda business.

Allowing Safaricom to run our football will also help curb corruption because they will monitor all activities and any vice will be under the spotlight. It is also vital to hire scouts and football directors to work hand in hand with the head coach to recruit and nurture talent as happens in Europe’s top leagues. Local football teams have had long-standing financial hurdles which have hindered their success and progress. The industry needs a messiah in the likeness of or Safaricom to clear it up and have it delivering. Reuben Wanjala, Maseno

 

Save rural women and children from biomass effects

Burning biomass fuels on open fires and use of inefficient stoves release detrimental pollutants. Inhaling these pollutants result in excess respiratory morbidity and mortality in women and children especially in rural areas.

Over 1.6 million children in developing countries die of respiratory infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by the consequences of exposure to biomass fuel smoke. I laud the government’s Last Mile Connectivity Project to ensure increased electricity access to Kenyans that has helped reduce home lighting using kerosene. Key interventions that can support stove adoption need to be embraced since majority of women in rural areas use biomass fuel in poorly ventilated houses.

There is a correlation between use of ordinary cook stove and increase in respiratory diseases and complications, eye infection, asthma and lung problems. A majority of women are fully aware of the negative effect of smoke on their health and may be willing to adapt to free cooking practices but unable to afford cleaner fuels or improved stoves.

This being a campaign year, we need to see politicians to come up with innovations and incentives that increase rural households’ access to modern energy sources to reduce negative health impacts affecting women and children. The county governments should develop educational and policy interventions to increase the awareness of the health effects of indoor biomass cooking smoke to reduce mortality and illnesses related to smoke and this will help Kenya as country to achieve the sustainable development goal that ensures health lives and promotion of well-being for all at all ages. Paul Maina, Nyeri

Good eating habits translate to good health

It is not just the willpower or lack of it that makes us gain weight. Sometimes, it is that sneaky habit you developed without realising it, like dashing out of the house without taking breakfast or munching chips while watching your favourite TV show.

The next thing you know, one little bad habit can equal to a lot of weight gain. The worst part is that you never realise what you are doing to your diet. Majority of us tend to opt for quick meals because probably we do not have time to cook or we do not know how to cook. An example would be how we grab sweet tea or a soda for breakfast not knowing that they are a source of cheap calories in our bodies.

On a per calorie basis, junk food is much cheaper than the healthy stuff that is highly valued. Health begins in the kitchen before extending to a one’s background, lifestyle and economic social conditions and spirituality. You do not have to die at the gym trying to lose weight yet you do not check what is on your plate. Lilian Wangui, Maseno