Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts, Mr Ababu Namwamba, has confirmed that preparations are underway for the launch of the Talanta Hela programme despite a court order suspending the process.
Namwamba was speaking on Tuesday 23 May right after a meeting purposed to evaluate the set plans as they await official launching of the programme by President William Ruto on June 2, 2023.
Namwamba said the Kenya Kwanza’s initiative, aims at monetizing talent derived from existing government institutions from Education and Sports ministry.
“We are collaborating with the Ministry of Education as well as the Ministry of ICT to ensure that we are able to identify talents from schools and the communities from all corners of our republic,” Namwamba said.
The programme’s council members included but not limited to TikToker Azziad Nasenya, musician Akothee, Comedian Churchill Ndambuki and blogger Dennis Itumbi. These appointments were not warmly welcomed as people criticized the criteria used to pick the appointees,alleged to be popularity and not merit.
However, on May 22, 2023, High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi suspended the establishment of the Talanta Hela programme created by the President in February 2023. The courts order gives Mr Namwamba and Attorney General Justin Muturi 14 days to respond to the matter.