Kenyan Special Olympics Team: Unflagged Journey to Germany Explained
Ababu Namwamba, Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Youth Affairs, and the Arts, has been accused of abandoning the Kenya Special Games team that traveled to Berlin, Germany, to compete in the Olympics from June 17 to June 25 of this year.
Members of Parliament interrogated CS Namwamba on Wednesday afternoon for allegedly failing to flag off the team at the airport, not accompanying them to the games, and similarly failing to greet them back after the competition.
In response, the embattled CS informed the House that he was adhering to other official ministry matters during the aforementioned time period, hence his absence from the aforementioned ceremonies.
He however sought to reassure the MPs that the Sports ministry was completely represented, as other officials were always present, and that they were even accompanied by the team’s patron, Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi.
“As a result of the sporting tradition of this country, we have multiple teams participating in a variety of activities around the world on average.” In any given month, approximately three delegations may travel to various regions of the globe to represent the country in various activities. As a ministry, we operate as a team and assume responsibility for various activities at various times, he explained.
“I was not in town for this particular trip because I was conducting other duties elsewhere, but the team was adequately supported. I can affirm to the House that I was not at the airport when this team departed, but ministry officials who accompanied the team ensured that all preparations and funding were in place.”
ALSO READ: Ababu Namwamba Apologizes to Parliament: Letter to Speaker Wetangula
He added, “I can also confirm that we stayed in touch with this team throughout the duration of these games, that we tracked their participation, and that upon their return from this trip, we hosted a reception at the airport, complete with traditional dancers, officers of the ministry, and flower girls – I have images and videos of this elaborate ceremony at JKIA.”
CS Namwamba wished to add that, upon their return to the country, the special games team was hosted by the patron Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi, and her husband, the Deputy President, at a reception where they were awarded various financial prizes.
He noted that the team received a total of Ksh.18.75 million in financial prizes for winning 15 gold medals, 4 silver medals, and 5 bronze medals at the global competition.
“We awarded Ksh.750,000 for every gold medalist, Ksh.500,000 for silver, and Ksh.300,000 for bronze,” he explained.
“I can assure the House that the ministry was completely represented at the ceremony by Peter Tum, the Principal Secretary in charge of the State Department of Sports. As I’ve already mentioned, I was on official ministry business out of town during that time.”
The Sports CS continued by stating that he has been accessible on numerous occasions to both send-off and receive back Kenyan delegations competing in various disciplines abroad.
He referenced the World Cross Country Championships team that he flagged off to Australia in February of this year, as well as the athletics delegation that is currently competing at the world championships in Budapest.
Kenyan Special Olympics Team: Unflagged Journey to Germany Explained
