Youth Affairs, Sports, and Arts Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has dissolved the Talanta Hela Council and its associated Technical Committees, resulting in the revocation of appointments for popular individuals like TikToker Azziad Nasenya, comedian Daniel ‘Churchill’ Ndambuki, and singers Akothee and Wahu Kagwi.
Namwamba’s decision was announced through a Gazette Notice dated June 9, 2023, which revoked Gazette Notice No 1649 of 2023.
This action comes after the High Court suspended the implementation of the Talanta Hela Council following a petition filed in court. Justice Lawrence Mugambi, on May 23, 2023, issued an interim order suspending the establishment of the Council and its Technical Committees for a period of three years. Mugambi argued that the appointments were in violation of Article 10 of the Constitution and breached the public’s trust in the Cabinet Secretary.
The Talanta Hela Council and Technical Committees were initially established to revitalize the sports and creative sectors and were intended to serve for a period of three years.
Namwamba had created the Creatives Technical Committee, chaired by comedian Churchill, to operate for the same duration. The committee members 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.
Similarly, to rejuvenate the sports industry, the Cabinet Secretary established the Sports Technical Committee, with prominent journalist Carol Radul as the chairperson. The committee consisted of 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.
