IN PICTURES: Ruto Launches Talanta Hela Hrs After Namwamba Revokes Appointments
The Talanta Hela initiative was formed under the directive of the president with the aim of monetizing the talents of Kenyans in the creative and sports industries.
Ian Muyumba 
President William Ruto on Friday, June 9 launched the Talanta Hela program at the State House in an event that was graced by sports personalities, artists, and government dignitaries.
Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi accompanied the President alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts Ababu Namwamba with MC Jessy and Chipukeezy being the masters of the ceremony.
Among the guests were the Harambee Stars team, all the sporting federations in the country, and sports legends such as former Gor Mahia captain Austin Oduor.
President Ruto and CS Ababu Namwamba with governors during the Talanta Hela launch at State House, Nairobi on June 9, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO
The Talanta Hela initiative was formed under the directive of the president with the aim of monetizing the talents of Kenyans in the creative and sports industries.
Following the president’s directive, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports on February 10, 2023, formulated the council comprising two committees in Sports and Creatives through a gazette notice.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that the following: the Presidential pronouncement on the 12th December 2022, of Government, plans to revitalise Sports and the Creative Economy through the revolutionary Talanta Hela initiative, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Arts and Sports has established Talanta Hela Council and its Technical Committees for Sports and the Creatives,” read a Gazette notice at the time.
President Ruto performs a ball-spinning trick during the Talanta Hela event at State House on June 9, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO
Sports personality, Carol Radull was mandated to Chair the Sports Committee with Churchill Ndambuki spearheading the Creatives Council.
However, hours before the launch of the Talanta Hela initiative, the CS revoked the appointment of members to the two committees in tandem with a High Court Order that suspended them.
The orders followed an application by an aggrieved sports personality, Charles Mugane who challenged the legality of the committees and the process that led to its formation.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts has revoked Gazette Notice No. 1649 of 2023” read the Kenya Gazette statement dated Friday, June 9.
Speaking during the event, the CS recognized the efforts of retired football stars commending them for the excellent job they did in putting the game on the map.
"We are anchoring this program on partnerships and I want to acknowledge those who have defined our sporting legacy over the years. We have representatives in this audience from all sporting Federations," addressed Namwamba.
"We have some Kenyans who lifted this country to the height of sporting excellency. With us today for instance we have Austin Oduor (Captained Gor Mahia when they lifted the 1987 Mandela Cup)."
President Ruto joins dancers during the Talanta Hela event at State House on June 9, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO
Further, he emphasized that reviving sports was the main agenda of the initiative citing that investing in current and future sportsmen was key to realizing this commitment.
"Even as we develop (sporting) academies, we must invest in the current generation players. Therefore, we are actively commercializing sports and we have put up a mega package that will see the return of live broadcasts and sponsorships for clubs that participate in our leagues," he added.
In his speech, the President echoed the Cabinet Secretary’s sentiments promising to elevate sports in the country.
“We are committed to leveraging our athletics and all sporting brands to develop a local sporting manufacturing apparel cluster including all sports into the national sports talent academy and devolve it into counties sports academies, said President Ruto.
The last event of the launch was the handing over of county flags by sports ministers to the president.
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