This weekend is an important time for Kenyan cricket as the two day Stakeholders' meeting is held at Parklands Sports Club, Nairobi. It is intended to bring together all interested parties in the running of cricket in Kenya namely the Cricket Kenya Executive, representatives from the Provincial affiliates, Cricket clubs, sponsors, national team, ex cricketers and the government.

If all goes smoothly, it should be a very productive two days as Cricket Kenya lay down their proposals for the development of the game in the country for the next four years. Key items on the agenda today will be Cricket Kenya Chairman Samir Inamdar’s overview on Cricket Kenya operations for the last two years, the address from either the African Cricket Association's CEO or ICC Regional Development Manager, the unveiling of Cricket Kenya’s Strategic Plan for 2008 to 2012 and discussions on development planning, administrative structure and constitution.

All are important aspects of Kenyan cricket and the direction it will take in the next few years, but it could be the latter item that upsets the apple cart. The Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association have still not yet sorted out their own constitution and have been rocked by yet another resignation with Nilesh Lakhani firing a broadside at the remaining members of the NPCA executive on his departure, stating that he no longer has confidence in the way that NPCA is currently operating. Who turns up from the NPCA and their attitude will have a big impact on the meeting and it is hoped that maturity will prevail and the good of the game will be put ahead of personal squabbling. Judging on recent past behaviour from the NPCA, this is anything but likely.

Past Strategic meetings were the forum that the NPCA used to bring down the old KCA and formed the foundation upon which the Cricket Kenya constitution, to which NPCA are signatory, was laid. How ironic it would be if it was the Stakeholders meeting that brings down the current NPCA who seem to have taken on so much of the appearance of the old KCA, in attitude if not in personnel.

Sunday sees the attention shift to presentations and discussion on government involvement, a proposed annual calendar, the proposed Zonal competition and reports from the four provinces. Once again it should be an opportunity to chart the way forward, but again there is the potential for strife, especially in discussion of the provincial reports.

Wrangles aside, this is a great opportunity for all involved in Kenyan cricket to put forward their view on the development of the game and should be used to plan cricket’s growth in Kenya. Cricket Kenya have done much good in the last two years as they continue to rebuild from the debris left behind by the KCA, but there is still a huge amount left to do. Youth development has until now taken a back seat to the rebuilding of the national team, the much touted National league is still yet to get off the ground and the Kenyan public are still largely apathetic to the sport. If Kenyan cricket is truly to progress, these are all issues that must take priority and those present at the meeting need to put them at the top of the priority list ahead of any personal agendas.