Ababu Namwamba, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Youth Affairs, and the Arts, has been criticized over claims that he abandoned Kenya's special games team, which competed in the Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
This comes as Members of Parliament quizzed CS Namwamba on Wednesday afternoon for allegedly forgetting to flag off the team at the airport, not accompanying them to the games, and failing to greet them upon returning after the competition.
In response, the embattled CS informed the House that he was away attending to other official ministry matters during the said period and, therefore, absent from the ceremonies.
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He did, however, try to reassure the MPs that the Sports Ministry was properly represented in the event, as other officials were present at all times, and that they were even accompanied by the team's patron, Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi.
"On average, because of our country's sporting tradition, we have multiple teams participating in various activities around the world." In any given month, three delegations may travel to various regions to represent the country in various activities. "We work as a team as a ministry, and we take responsibility for different activities at different times," he explained.
CS Namwamba said that following their return to the country, the special games team was treated to a reception by patron Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi and her husband, the Deputy President, at which time they were given monetary prizes.
He stated that the squad collected Ksh.18.75 million in cash awards for their 15 Gold medals, 4 Silver medals, and 5 Bronze medals at the worldwide competition.
The Sports CS said he has been available numerous times to send off and welcome Kenyan delegations competing in various disciplines abroad.
He mentioned the World Cross Country Championships squad he led to Australia in February of this year and the athletics delegation currently competing in the World Championships in Budapest.
