‘Talanta Hela app doesn’t exist’ – Gladys Shollei takes a swipe at Ababu Namwamba
Uasin Gishu Woman Representative and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei has castigated Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba over how he has steered the Ministry.
Speaking to a local TV station on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, Shellei said that Namwamba had not implemented most of the Ministry's policies, including creating the Talanta Hela app.
"Seeing the management of sports at the moment is painful. As late as yesterday I looked for the Talanta Hela app, (but) it doesn't exist. They told us it was launched," she said.
Talanta Hela Programme, which was supposed to be launched across 47 counties, was aimed at promoting sports talent among the youth. By the time of going to press, People Daily Digital confirmed the app was not online, both in App Store and Play Store.
According to Shollei, Namwamba has neglected sportsmen and women representing the country in international events. Rogue Ministry officials, Shollei says, have taken the space supposed to be reserved for athletes while the CS remains unbothered.
"I have hosted them (athletes) at my house because the CS is not bothered. They have told me some of the horror stories of what happens to them; they fly economy while ministry officials fly business class, and sometimes they have layovers of up to 14 hours," she added.
Shollei's comments come hours after Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei backed the National Assembly's move to grill Namwamba over the alleged mishandling of athletes.
"I echo the sentiments of (Kimani) Ichung'wah Majority Leader National Assembly that CS Ababu continues to mismanage into oblivion our beloved sports. How can ministry officials fly first class with their girlfriends to the Olympics in Budapest, Hungary at the expense of our athletes?" Cherargei posed.
"Our female athletes are being exploited sexually and economically! Parliament must summon CS sports to avert disastrous mismanagement of our sports!"
Ichung'wah had expressed disappointment with how the CS was managing affairs at the Ministry, accusing him of enjoying government privileges at the expense of athletes.
"You were made a minister to serve the people and if you are made the minister of sports you must serve sportsmen and women of our country and its indeed extremely sad that such good ambassadors can leave our country without due recognition by the ministry in charge of that responsibility," Ichung'wah said.
Namwamba is yet to respond to the allegations.
