Talanta Hela App Doesn't Exist- Ruto Allies Corner CS Ababu Namwamba

It all began on Thursday, August 17 when National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah raised a red flag on the Sports Cabinet Secretary's performance

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Aug 22, 2023 - 12:28 Updated: Sep 2, 2023 - 22:47
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Talanta Hela App Doesn't Exist- Ruto Allies Corner CS Ababu Namwamba
Sports Cabinet Secretary, Ababu Namwamba at Ogembo P.A.G Township Church in Kisii County on August 13, 2023. /ABABU NAMWAMBA

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has for the past few days found himself in murky waters over accusations of mismanaging his ministry as well as misusing resources while putting athletes through misery.

It all began on Thursday, August 17 when National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah raised a red flag on the Sports Cabinet Secretary's performance, pointing out a failed leadership since everything in Kenya's sports sector has stagnated.

Ichung'wah demanded that CS Namwamba be brought before the House for questioning, accusing him of being unable to manage the affairs of the country's sportsmen and women who have dominated global headlines, particularly in athletics, and instead lounging in government privileges.

"You were not made a minister in this country to fly flags in the streets and bulldoze your way through traffic with Subaru escorts, you were made to serve the sportsmen and women of this country.

President Ruto and Sports CS Ababu Namwamba with athletes Faith Kipyegon and Ferdinand Omanyala at State House, Nairobi on June 13, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO

"The minister must appear before this house and I will cause his appearance and specifically tell this house and the people of Kenya why he lacks the time to attend to people who are representing our country," he demanded.

His sentiments drew the attention of Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who claimed that Sports Ministry officials travel with "girlfriends" at the expense of the nation's top sports representatives, adding that the time was ripe for incompetent leaders to be held into account.

"I echo [the] sentiments of Hon. Ichungwa Majority Leader National Assembly 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 on X (formerly Twitter).

"Our female athletes are being exploited sexually & economically! Parliament must summon CS sports to avert disastrous mismanagement of our sports!"

On Tuesday, August 22, Uasin Gishu woman representative and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei put CS Namwamba in a turbulent environment over his leadership, pointing out the deplorable state of the Ministry.

Shollei, who appeared on Citizen TV, claimed that the Ministry of Sports was being mismanaged by the Sports CS, who was not keen on fulfilling the promises made to the youth.

To emphasize this, she narrated how she was even forced to host champions from the Boston and London marathons after the ministry failed to accord them a decent reception upon their return.

"I am happy that this was raised. Coming from Uasin Gishu where most athletes come from it's very painful, I listen to them. Every time they have landed they have come to my home here in Kitusuru because the CS is not bothered," she said.

"I've hosted them for breakfast and lunch and talked about their challenges and they tell me their horror stories. They fly economy, the ministry officials are flying business class and first class."

Shollei shocked viewers by claiming that Kenyan athletes have been wearing fake uniforms including counterfeit Adidas shoes procured by the ministry, putting the famous River Road in Nairobi in the spotlight for a few hours.

"Our team that went to Tunisia for the games were wearing fake Adidas sports shoes from River Road in Nairobi. The team that went to Tobago was also wearing fake uniforms.

"By the time a country reaches a point where our athletes are wearing fake uniforms, it means that there is something wrong with the management of sports," she complained.

Shollei further lifted the lid on the rampant cases of doping linked to Kenyan athletes, noting that the amount of exploitation in training camps is appalling and coaches together with relevant authorities are involved. 

"The coaches who issue these drugs are known. Why is it that they have not been arrested? None of those young people know about doping they can hardly buy food or shoes so it's usually the coaches or people around them providing these drugs lying to them that it is supplements," she stated.

Shollei also poked holes into the Talanta Hela app, arguing that the information presented about it was inaccurate and that the claims made by Namwamba on the app which was intent on boosting creative artists in their work, were misleading and false.

"If you search for the Talanta Hela Mobile App, you will confirm that it does not exist, yet they told us that it was launched and operational," she went on.

President Ruto and CS Ababu Namwamba enjoy entertainment during the Talanta Hela launch at State House, Nairobi on June 9, 2023. /ABABU NAMWAMBA.TWITTER

Spot checks on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store revealed that the app was yet to be made available, despite most blogs and media houses writing informative articles on how to download the app and log in.

The app was launched alongside the programme by the CS and President William Ruto at State House on Friday, June 9, with Ruto backing the Sports CS to leave a lasting impression on the sector, despite Namwamba initially shying away from taking over the sports docket.

"When the time to appoint Cabinet came, he wanted me to appoint him to another ministry (I will not tell you which), but I declined. I told him that I knew my team better, and you (Namwamba) agree with me that I made the right choice," Ruto stated. 

"You have my support in what you are doing in this space. We have had a conversation about what you are doing in this sector."

Ruto's backing however does little on Namwamba's operations, with pro-government allies arguing otherwise in a matter that risks the CS being labelled as an incapable manager owing to the numerous complaints raised regarding his ministry, and put him among the likely candidates for a Cabinet reshuffle by President Ruto, when it happens.

Ababu Namwamba has yet to release a statement to rescue himself and defend the allegations threatening to ignite heated clashes in Parliament.

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