Talanta Hela receives setback as High Court suspends programme

Ababu Namwamba is the Current nominated Sports CS pending approval by the Parliament

SPORTS Talanta Hela receives setback as High Court suspends programme

Joel Omotto 12:00 - 23.05.2023

The Nairobi court has quashed the implementation of the talent initiative after a petitioner claimed that the rights of those it meant to benefit will be infringed.

Kenya’s sports personalities have received a blow after a Nairobi court suspended the establishment of the Talanta Hela programme on Monday.

According to Nation, High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi suspended the establishment of the council until a case filed by a sporting personality Charles Mugane is heard and determined in what is a setback to the initiative created by President William Ruto to nurture grassroots talent in the country.

Mugane cited legal and constitutional flaws in the case he filed under a certificate of urgency, urging the judge to suspend the implementation of the council and its relevant committees in all the 47 counties.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba had already started implementing the programme, having appointed members to the Council for a period of three years, but the order has now been quashed after Mugane informed Justice Mugambi that unless he intervenes, rights of those meant to benefit will be infringed.

The petitioner asked the judge to suspend the establishment of the Council and its Committees until such a time when the CS will comply with the law by implementing sound sporting doctrine in establishing the body that will help the country identify and get the best of talents in all sporting activities.

“Upon hearing both counsel the notice of motion application be and is hereby granted by issuing an interim order suspending the Special Kenya Gazette Notice No 1640 (Vol.CXXV-No32) dated February 10, 2023,” Justice Mugambi said in his ruling, as per Nation.

Talanta Hela was established through a Kenya Gazette Notice No.1649 (Vol.CXXV No.32) by the President in February this year and has two technical committees, one for sports and one for creatives.

Namwamba then swung into action and set up the two committees, media personality Carol Radull heading the sports, while comedian Daniel Ndambuki, popularly known as Churchill leading the creatives team.