Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba who is under criticism from a section of Kenya Kwanza MPs over alleged mismanagement of sports will today appear before Parliament this afternoon to respond to a question on the role of his Ministry in facilitating the Kenya team that attended the Special Olympics held in Berlin, Germany in June. He is also set to explain about the management of aquatic sports in the country.
The allegations against Namwamba were raised by Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichun’gwah on August 17 during a House sitting.
The legislator expressed dissatisfaction with how the Sports CS is steering the ministry, demanding a look into his performance. Ichung’wah said it is appalling to see teams jetting back into the country yet no one from the Sports Ministry bothers to celebrate or receive them.
“You were made a minister to serve the people and if you are made the minister of sports you must serve sportsmen and women of our country and it’s indeed extremely sad that such good ambassadors can leave our country without due recognition by the ministry in charge of that responsibility,” he said.
He added, “To make matters worse they go represent our country out there, they win, come back and not a single minister from the ministry and the minister himself has the decency to receive them at the airport or even to recognise the good work they have done for our country.”
Nandi senator Samson Cherargei rallied behind the MP asking him to summon the CS. He claimed the athletes were being exploited sexually and economically and “parliament must summon the CS to avert disastrous mismanagement of our sports”.
“I echo the sentiments of Ichung’wah that CS Ababu continues to mismanage into oblivion our beloved sports. How can ministry officials fly first class with their girlfriends to Olympics Budapest, Hungary at the expense of our athletes?” he wrote.
Yesterday, Uasin Gishu Woman Rep Gladys Shollei also criticized Namwamba’s management of the Ministry. Speaking on a local TV show, Shollei said Namwamba had not implemented most of the Ministry’s policies, including creating the Talanta Hela app.
“Seeing the management of sports at the moment is painful. As late as yesterday, I looked for the Talanta Hela app, (but) it doesn’t exist. They told us it was launched,” said Shollei who is also the National Assembly Deputy Speaker. Talanta Hela Programme, which was supposed to be launched in the 47 counties, is aimed at promoting sports talent among the youth.
By Chemok Abigael