CS Ababu set to face National Assembly over questions on ministry's conduct

Cabinet secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts Ababu Namwamba is on Wednesday afternoon expected to appear before the National Assembly where he will respond to questions surrounding his ministry in a plenary session.

The development comes in the wake of the CS facing a multitude of accusations from select Members of Parliament in recent weeks, with the former Budalangi MP being accused of a range of issues including; mismanagement of funds, lack of accountability and mishandling of Kenyan athletes.

Some of the questions indicated on Order Number Seven in the Notice of Petitions, Questions and Statements that Ababu will answer in the ‘not later than 3:00 pm session’ will revolve around the role of the ministry in facilitating the Kenyan Team that attended the Special Olympics held in Berlin, Germany in June 2023, and an explanation on the overall management of aquatic sports in the country.

As quoted on different publications this week, several members, including National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei on Tuesday, August 22, in an interview claimed that after hosting ‘a majority of athletes’, some admitted to the fact that ‘they fly economy while the ministry officials were flying business class and first class.’

Other queries raised this week stemmed from Kikuyu MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah, who asked Ababu to provide an explanation as to why neither he nor a representative from the ministry was present to receive athletes who landed after representing Kenya at the Berlin Games.

Divided into subsections, other questions in relation to the Special Olympics will seek to get an answer as to ‘why the team jetted out without being flagged off’ and ‘why the CS didn’t deem it reasonable to celebrate the team following their return.’

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A crucial topic however, will be on the Ministry’s plan to ensure that the Kenya Aquatics Stabilization Committee conducts the long overdue national elections, plus their plans to address ‘discrimination, unfairness and opaqueness in selection criteria of swimmers participating in various local, regional, continental and international swimming competitions.’

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Kenya at the moment remains under suspension following its failure to conduct elections, with a 28 June 2022 appointed Stabilization Committee unable to conduct its mandate.

The CS is said to be at the 95th edition of the Music Festival State Concert at Nakuru State Lodge, Nakuru County, but will attend the plenary session and thereafter speak to members of the press outside Parliament Buildings.