Abstract
Athletics, its obsession and allure for economic empowerment (marathons,World Championships, Golden League track events) through skill and will,unlike any other sport in Kenya, has generated contestations in the emergenceof national identity. Thus the crisis in the body Athletics Kenya (AK), the Ministryfor Gender, Sports and Culture and among individual athletes in Kenyatoday is symbolic of the crisis of individuality, nationhood and identity in Africandevelopment. Since the ‘defection’ of Wilson Kipketer in 1998, Kenyanathletes have negotiated and have ‘run’ for citizenship in the Middle East,Europe and the United States. At stake is whether athletes, athletics, sportspolicy and the governing bodies are witnessing an evolution or devolution inautonomy especially when citizenship changes necessitate identity changes asis the case of the Qatar/Bahrain ‘defecting’ athletes. The paper presents thecase for this issue, while situating the practise of athletes ‘defecting’ within theglobal flows of movement and questions of identity.
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