Nairobi, Kenya, Feb 15 – Kenya and Japan have signed an agreement to support the provision of sports equipment for athletes with disabilities in the country.
According to a statement from Japan Embassy in Kenya, Japan will provide the Kenya National Paralympics Committee (KNPC) with Sh 2.79 million (USD 22,181) through the Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project (GCGP).
The grant signing ceremony which took place Tuesday was attended by Agnes Flora Oluoch, President, Kenya National Paralympic Committee and other members of the KNPC and Japan Ambassador to Kenya Ken Okaniwa Ken.
The GCGP funding will be used to procure gym equipment which will aid the development of sports for people with disabilities.
With the support of Japan, KNPC will purchase a treadmill, a recumbent bike, a multi-gym station, a smith machine, a bench press, dumbbells, and a dumbbell rack.
Speaking during the event, Ambassador Okaniwa said the funding will go a long way in supporting the Paralympics in Kenya.
“As shown by the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, sports bring our peoples together. Japan’s support to KNPC will empower people with disabilities as well as sensitize others about the potential of people with Disabilities,” Ambassador Okaniwa said.
The implementation of this project is expected to directly benefit over 1,720 athletes and their coaches.
The Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects (GCGP) is a scheme under the Cultural Grant Assistance of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) that is provided to contribute to promotion of cultural/higher education activities and preservation of cultural heritage in developing countries.
GCGP aims at promoting cultural exchange, deepen friendship and mutual understanding by providing non-profit organisations with support for the procurement of equipment and construction of facilities.
2023 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kenya and Japan.
