Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria on Saturday announced a football tournament in Mt Kenya region on February 4 organised by the Moses Kuria Foundation.
The CS revealed that the tournament will be an appropriate forum to mentor and counsel the youth in the region.
In a statement, the CS announced that the winner will get Ksh5 million, the runners-up will take home Ksh3 million and the team in third place will be awarded Ksh1 million.
The tournament will include 64 constituency combined teams and eight groups from the region.
However, the initiative has been met with criticism from a section of Kenyans who questioned why the CS could not put the money into other development projects in the country.
"Why not invest that Ksh9 million on good infrastructure in those stadiums," one suggested.
Additionally, others were concerned that more leaders from the Kenya Kwanza government have been organising more tournaments across the country. The leaders were accused of abandoning their constitutional roles and looking to secure their political interests.
CS Kuria and others were also advised to leave the tournaments to his Sports counterpart Ababu Namwamba and focus on his ministry.
Kuria was also accused of using the tournament as a gimmick to campaign ahead of the 2027 General Election. Kenyans opined that he was plotting to grow his popularity in the region.
Furthermore, a section was concerned with the increased tournaments questioning the source of the funds.
On the other hand, others lauded CS Kuria for engaging the youth and keeping them away from vices such as alcoholism that are destroying the community.
"It is a good move by our leaders to motivate and nurture talents. Good initiative, if we do not invest in the youth and women we will never have a solid foundation in our region" one remarked.
Kuria alongside his fellow lawmakers was asked to combine the tournaments to avoid interfering with the existing tournament.
