A Nation of Ugly Contrasts: When Priorities Speak Louder Than Talent

 

On one hand, an MP is offering KSh 10 million to quell a rumor. On the other, our biggest tennis star is forced to run a fundraiser to raise the same amount. This is Kenya in 2026: a nation of stark, uncomfortable contrasts.

Take the latest example: Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri donated KSh 2 million to Oga Obinna to support the Majembe vs. Mbavu Destroyer boxing match. The president, not to be outdone in public spectacle, also offered KSh 4 million for the same event. Suddenly, a private fight between two personalities commands millions from the public purse or at least from public figures eager for visibility. And while we can celebrate support for sport, it becomes hard to ignore the skewed logic in these allocations.

These same individuals are unlikely to blink when it comes to supporting boxing at the grassroots level. There, young fighters scrape for gear, pay for gym access out of pocket, and dream of opportunities that never materialize. The money is only made available when there is guaranteed publicity: cameras, cameras, and more cameras. The fight becomes the stage, not the sport, and certainly not the development of talent.

Now contrast that with Kenya’s tennis champion, Angella Okutoyi. She is the only Kenyan to have won a Grand Slam title at the girls’ juniors Wimbledon. That is no small feat—think about the training, the travel, the mental and physical endurance required to compete against the world’s best, all while representing Kenya. And yet, despite her world-class accomplishment, she is crowdfunding KSh 10 million to continue her career. She needs sponsorship to compete internationally, access better coaching, and sustain her dream of putting Kenya on the global tennis map.

This is not just unfair; it is tragic. It reflects a national mindset where visibility, spectacle, and gossip attract resources far more effectively than discipline, talent, or international achievement. The athlete who brings global recognition to the country is forced to plead for help, while a local fight match gets millions handed over without hesitation.

It begs the question: what do we value as a nation? Is it fleeting entertainment or lasting excellence? Is it the loud buzz of a ring or the quiet, painstaking work of training to become world-class?

Angella’s story is emblematic of something much bigger. Every time we fail to support athletes like her, we send a message: Kenya celebrates potential only when it entertains, not when it excels. We invest in visibility, not impact. We prioritize optics over outcomes. And this is not limited to sports. Look at funding allocations across education, healthcare, and the arts. Programs that generate headlines get attention. Programs that generate results often struggle.

The reality is that Angella Okutoyi represents a national asset. Her victories are not personal triumphs alone—they are national milestones. Each trophy she wins, each record she sets, carries Kenya’s name to international arenas. Yet, while the nation cheerleads for her achievements, it leaves her to navigate financial hurdles largely alone. Meanwhile, public figures throw millions at events whose benefit is largely symbolic or short-lived.

There is a lesson here about accountability and the use of influence. MPs and leaders have the ability to shape national priorities, and the choices they make send powerful messages. By supporting spectacle over substance, they normalize mediocrity. They encourage a culture where effort, discipline, and long-term commitment are undervalued. They show that the loudest, flashiest, or most scandalous claim to attention will always outcompete quiet excellence.

What would it take to recalibrate priorities? Start by recognizing that support is not charity it is investment. Funding Angella is not an act of goodwill; it is an act of foresight. Her achievements have a ripple effect: inspiring young athletes, increasing Kenya’s visibility in global sport, and potentially attracting sponsors and partnerships that can elevate entire programs. Every shilling invested in her career is a shilling that multiplies into influence, opportunity, and national pride.

Contrast this with funding a single, one-off boxing event. Sure, it provides entertainment. It may generate social media buzz or a viral moment. But the long-term impact? Minimal. Few young people are inspired to train, few careers are sustained, and the benefits vanish once the event ends. The investment evaporates.

Kenyans are beginning to notice these discrepancies. Social media is awash with voices questioning why our best talents people like Angella, who have put Kenya on the map—are left to fundraise while others enjoy lavish spending. The conversation is growing, but it is not enough. Recognition without action does not change outcomes. It takes decisive support to shift the narrative.

There is also an equity argument here. Talent should not be punished for lacking visibility. Merit should be rewarded. Global achievement should not be contingent on public spectacle. Kenya has historically celebrated mediocrity because it is convenient and visible. It is time to celebrate excellence even when it requires patience, foresight, and sustained support.

This is not a call to abandon entertainment or public events. Kenya’s culture thrives on celebration, camaraderie, and competition. But there must be balance. Resources should reflect values. We should not be a nation where public funds and attention go disproportionately to events that merely flash on the radar for a moment, while those who consistently elevate the country internationally struggle for survival.

Supporting Angella is not just supporting one tennis player. It is sending a message to every young Kenyan with a dream: your talent matters. Your effort matters. Your discipline and dedication can be recognized, celebrated, and sustained. It is an affirmation that the nation will not simply reward visibility and spectacle but will invest in those who carry Kenya’s name with excellence.

We cannot continue a cycle where talent is forced to self-fund while flashy, ephemeral projects are bankrolled with ease. That is how mediocrity is normalized and excellence punished. That is how a nation allows inequality in recognition to persist.

Kenyans must ask themselves: do we want to be remembered as a nation of fleeting spectacles or a nation of lasting achievement? Do we want to cheer for visibility or cultivate sustained excellence? Do we want to invest in a headline or in a legacy?

Angella Okutoyi is writing history with her racket, her sweat, and her unrelenting pursuit of greatness. She should not have to beg for the resources to continue her work. She deserves investment—not just for herself, but for every young Kenyan who dreams of achieving greatness in a world-class arena.

Meanwhile, the KSh 2 million donations to a single boxing match highlight the contrast: spectacle receives immediate attention and funding, while international achievement struggles. That contrast is ugly, and it is avoidable. Kenya can choose to redirect attention, celebrate excellence consistently, and align resources with genuine national value.

In the end, it comes down to values. If we truly value talent, excellence, and national representation, then we must back those who earn it. If we continue to favor the loud, the flashy, and the visible, then we will continue to produce a culture that celebrates mediocrity and forgets greatness.

Angella Okutoyi deserves better. Kenya deserves better. And until our investments reflect that truth, we will remain a nation of ugly contrasts applauding spectacle while neglecting true champions.