NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 10 — Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports, and The Arts Ababu Namwamba has dropped four new appointments after revoking the establishment of the Talanta Hela Council and its Technical Committees.
In a gazette notice on Friday, the appointments of Carol Radul, Dennis Itumbi, Azziad Nasenya, Daniel Ndambuki were revoked in the wake of the controversy surrounding the members of the council.
Other members to the committee included; Akinyi Odongo, Jimmi Gathu, Catherine Kamau, Esther ‘Akothee’ Akoth, Kizito Makhande, Rosemary Wahu Kagwi, Awadhi Salim Awadhi, Douglas Kipkirui and Langat Susan Ekasiba.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs and Arts has revoked Gazzete Notice number 1649 of 2023,” read notice.
The CS’s decision was made in response to a court decision that stopped further implementation.
In a ruling dated May 23, Justice Lawrence Mugambi of the High Court gave the Sports Ministry 14 days to put its house in order and respond to a petition contesting the appointments.
“Pending the hearing and determination of this application inter parties, an interim order be and is hereby issued suspending the special issue of the Kenya Gazette Notice 1649(Vol.CXXV No.32) dated February 10, 2023, publishing the establishment of the Talanta Hela Council and its Technical Committees and consequent appointments for a period of 3 years effective from February 10, 2023,” ruled Mugambi.
Court contest
The order was made following the filing of a case by lawyer Charles Mugane who challenged the selection of the Creative Technical Committee.
Mugane argued that the nominations were made in a political manner to favor friends while disregarding competent Kenyans.
“This was a betrayal of the public trust bestowed upon you by the Kenyan citizenry,” Mugane told the court.
The petitioner further asserted that Article 10 of the Constitution was violated.
Namwamba moved to dissolve after numerous attempts to defend it as being a significant step in transforming the country’s arts and entertainment landscape.
The CS established the Talanta Hela Council and two other Technical Committees through a Gazette Notice dated February 6, 2023.
The Council was to be chaired by Namwamba.
A Sports Committee chaired by Radul, a media personality, had been tasked to consider and propose legislative and policy measures for the growth of sports in the country.
It also had the responsibility of supporting the Kenya Academy of Sports in running a nationwide programme for identifying, developing, and marketing Kenya’s best sporting and creative talent from all 47 counties.
Olympic Javelin Champion Julius Yego alongside Boniface Ambani, Neddy Kutsuru, Alfred Makotsi, Sammy Tiyoi, Daniel Nakeor and Shariffa Ochieng were also appointed to the committee.
They were to serve for a period of three years.