Ababu Namwamba, the Sports Cabinet Secretary, appealed to the Judiciary, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, to take action against cartels that are undermining the rule of law in athletics.
Namwamba argued that the cartels who run amok in the athletics sector via doping agents are a threat to the good governance of sports in the country.
While speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Friday, August 25, at his office in Nairobi, the Sports CS noted that the Judiciary is instrumental in the prosecution and conviction of doping agents who had wreaked havoc in the ministry before he was appointed to Cabinet.
"We also need prosecutors and judicial officers so that the Judiciary could set aside Magistrate Courts just to deal with these cases.
"Just the same way we have special courts for corruption or terrorism cases. We have asked the Chief Justice to give us special courts that will deal with these cases," Namwamba revealed.
He further assured Kenyans that he plans to bring in new talents and technocrats from various fields to fight against impunity in sports.
Namwamba, a lawyer by profession, positively accepted criticisms from a section of politicians who claimed that doping cartels are having field days in some parts of the country.
He, however, explained that one of the challenges he faced upon assuming office was ensuring swift coordination between multi-agencies in Kenya in his effort to curb doping.
Namwamba thus oversaw the creation of a multi-unit agency, among them the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, Athletics Kenya, the Athletics Integrity Unit, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation, to crack down on serial offenders.
"It is important for me to say that there is no way you are going to deploy that much activity without resources. Among the agreements with Athletics Kenya is the necessary resources needed for us to achieve objectives.
"We have committed Ksh700 million a year to facilitate the multi-agency team that is working with a wish list," Namwamba assured Kenyans.
Namwamba acknowledged that the new team will most likely face resistance from those who benefit from the status quo but noted that the experts are up to the task at hand.
"What has been holding us back is the failure to join the dots of investigations, prosecution and the Judiciary. However, now that we have that complete circuit, we are now taking it head-on," Namwamba stated.
On Tuesday, August 22, Deputy National Assembly Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei criticised Namwamba for what she termed as rampant doping cases among athletes. Shollei noted there is a high level of exploitation of athletes by coaches and relevant authorities in training camps around the larger Rift Valley region.
"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.
Namwamba acknowledged Shollei's grievances and pledged to act and whip his docket into order. He also promised to meet athletes face to face rather than via federations to address their frustrations.
In April this year, the CS received the doping report from the National Anti-Doping Steering Committee, which recommended developing and implementing strategic plans to fight doping. Kenya escaped a ban by the World Athletics for doping in November last year after the intervention of the CS.
