Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts Ababu Namwamba promised to deal firmly with doping in the country and clean Kenya's image within the athletics circles globally.
Speaking while flagging off the 2022 edition of the Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon on Sunday, October 30 at Uhuru Gardens, Namwamba termed this as a top priority on his list.
“Early this morning I flagged off the 19th Standard Chartered Marathon at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi. I have urged all the athletes to compete clean to promote Kenya's reputation as a sporting nation that plays by the rules, against doping,” he said on Sunday, October 30 morning.
During the marathon, Elias Chelimo and Sheila Chepkech produced spectacular performances to bag the titles for men and women respectively.
Chelimo crossed the finishing line in 2:10.22 ahead of Wilfred Kirwa and Felix Kipkorir.
Athletics, Football Bans
Namwamba's work is already cut out. Kenya was in 2016 placed in the Category-A watch list for doping by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA). A dark crowd of suspensions has since hung over the athletics industry with a series of suspensions, dimming Kenya’s previously sparkling image on the global stage.
The latest ban involved Marius Kipserem on October 20, who was part of Eliud Kipchoge’s under 2 hours marathon team. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) handed him a three-year ban after the prohibited substance recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) was found in a sample provided by the athlete in August. Ababu has promised to end the menace.
Speaking during his take-over ceremony at the ministry headquarters on Friday, October 28, Namwamba insisted that youths were his priority and that he would dedicate his time to creating a better present and future for them.
“We are going to be working with young people in various capacities. We want to see a lot of young people involved in various capacities including management,” he stated.
Namwamba, who served in the same capacity during the grand coalition government, hit the ground running, to implement some of the priories he had listed during his vetting in parliament on his first day in office.
Sports and Music
“On my day 1 in the office today, I engaged FIFA on the phone to commence the process of resolving the impasse that has seen Kenya banned by the world football governing body. Government is committed to returning Kenyan football to normalcy in sync with the rule of law and the public good,” he confirmed later on Friday evening.
The CS was not done yet as he headed for yet another hot potato for the ministry, and the music industry, meeting with the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) and the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) Officials. Artists have been crying foul over meagre and delayed dues thus feeling shortchanged by the government.
“Met officials of the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) and the CEO of Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) EzekielMutua to start the process of doing justice to our artists by ensuring we protect their creativity and they earn their just due for a dignified life,” he stated.
The former Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary also rescued the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) dwindling status, attending a league match and assuring that it would be a top priority.
“This evening I attended 2 national hockey league matches (Male & Female) at the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) City Park Hockey Stadium, Nairobi with KHU President Nahashon Randiek. The state of Kenyan hockey is depressing. We must return this game to world-class status,” he stated.
Youth Leadership
Ababu also engaged fresh gear in having Kenya host the 2023 Youth Connect Summit by meeting the International Youth Fellowship officials at their headquarters. The summit was held in Rwanda in 2022 with the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua attending as a guest alongside the host President Paul Kagame.
“CS Ababu Namwamba in his remarks said that the government will collaborate with IYF to promote youth development in the country. He also promised to engage the youth during the Youth Connekt 2023 summit which his Ministry will host,” the ministry confirmed through a communique.
It is clear that the minister has a full plate, to revive Kenyan sports having just been sworn into office as part of President William Ruto's Hustler cabinet.
