Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has been forced to apologise to the National Assembly on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, after terming allegations against his office as hearsay.
Appearing before the National Assembly, Namwamba apologised to MPs over the contents of the letter which he had addressed to Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.
Namwamba was invited to the House to answer questions about integrity on why Kenya’s team to the Special Olympic Games jetted out of the country without either the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts or a representative from the Ministry flagging them off.
“Could the CS explain how and why the Cabinet Secretary did not deem it reasonable to receive and celebrate the team for their monumental performance during their arrival into the country from the games,” Ichung’wah said.
Ichung’wah also demanded answers on the measures the Ministry is putting in place to ensure the anomaly of ill-treating athletes doesn’t recur again.
Namwamba’s defence
In his defence, Namwamba said that he was not around the day the team flew out, but he was represented by officials from the Ministry.
“This particular trip did not find me in town because I was performing other duties elsewhere but the team was fully facilitated. I can confirm to this house that indeed I was not at the airport at the departure of this team but the officers of the Ministry accompanied this team to ensure that all the preparations required were done,” he said.
“I can also confirm that we remained in touch with this team throughout these games we tracked their participation and upon their return from this trip, we had a reception at the airport complete with traditional dancers, we had officers from the Ministry, we even had gallons of flowers.”
Namwamba said that the team was accompanied by 13 government officials led by the Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi.
He also revealed that the government spent at least Ksh159 million to prepare the team for the competitions.
“I want to assure you that house the Ministry took full responsibility for this team, we provided a total of Ksh159 million to support the full preparation and participation of this team at these games and that money included support to residential training, provision of uniforms, sports equipment, travel expenses which included return tickets for the whole delegation, allowances in accordance with the SRC, accommodation, reception upon return and also rewards for the team,” he added.
The CS also denied claims that Kenyan athletes have been using fake kits from Adidas, saying that they have a deal with Nike.
