Sports CS Namwamba revokes appointment of Azziad, Churchill, Akothee to Talanta Hela Council

Namwamba revoked the establishment of the Talanta Hela Council in a Gazette Notice dated June 9, 2023.

"It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts has revoked Gazette Notice No 1649 of 2023," reads the notice.

The move by Namwamba comes weeks after the High Court suspended implementation of the Talanta Hela Council pending the hearing and determination of a petition filed in court. 

“Pending the hearing and determination of this application interparties, an interim orders 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 justice Lawrence Mugambi on May 23, 2023.

Mugane argues that the appointments are a breach of Article 10 of the Constitution and a betrayal of the public trust bestowed upon the Cabinet Secretary by the Kenyan citizenry.

The Talanta Hela Council and Technical Committees, which had been established to ostensibly revitalize Sports and the Creative Economy, were to serve for a period of three years

Namwamba had established the Creatives Technical Committee to be chaired by comedian Churchill, and to serve for a similar period of three years.

Members to the committee included; Akinyi Odongo, Jimmi Gathu, Catherine Kamau, Esther ‘Akothee’ Akoth, Kizito Makhande, Azziad Nasenya, Rosemary Wahu Kagwi, Awadhi Salim Awadhi, Douglas Kipkirui, and Langat Susan Ekasiba.

Likewise, in a bid to rejuvenate the sports sector, the CS also set up the Sports Technical Committee which will be chaired by prominent journalist Carol Radul.

Radul was to lead a team comprising; Boniface Ambani, Julius Kiplagat Yego, Neddy Kutsuru, Alfred Makotsi, Sammy Tiyoi Shollei, Collins Kale, Kevin Mutai, Shilovelo Winna Shilavula, Daniel Nakeor Losiru, and Staicy Shariffa Ochieng.