Despite President Ruto emphasizing the importance of youth empowerment and creating platforms to nurture talents, sports development in Kenya has faced significant delays. This is evident in the recent frustrations expressed by the National Assembly’s Sports Committee, chaired by Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama.
The committee was meant to address the construction of Sports Academies in all constituencies but failed to kick off due to the absence of Sports Principal Secretary (PS) Peter Tum and the CEOs of the Kenya Academy of Sports and the Sports, Arts, and Social Development Fund who were supposed to brief the members on the progress of the projects.
Expressing her frustration, Teso South MP Mary Emase issued a stern warning to the sports leadership.
“So on this one, on the sports academy, the president pronounced himself on on the issue of this academy and many other programs, we do not have any stadia complete even up today we shall call the PS and the CEO either to resign or perform their work.”
Busia County MP Catherine Omanyo also voiced her concerns about providing opportunities for youth.
“I take sports Academies very seriously, it will keep the youths busy and expose their talents so they will get jobs. Why should anybody start deal-darling douching being crafty with such a serious initiative? The PS Tum is incapable of running his office well and let him step down.”
Kandara MP Chege Njuguna criticized PS Tum for prioritizing personal gain over public service. “We have seen his unseriousness, he is putting his stomach before our youths and he is out there hiring a private consultant to come and do the same job of public works can do, we need to know why he is pocketing the public monies.”
Yatta MP Robert Basil called for action. “The PS should vacate and we say enough is enough, let stadia be advertised and and started as soon as possible if he cannot commit to that let him step aside.”
Bomet East MP Richard Yegon expressed his deep disappointment with PS Tum’s repeated absence from crucial meetings. “This is the fourth time the PS has failed to appear. He is taking us for granted, and we will not accept it. We are prepared to start with this Ministry and ensure that those who are not performing are removed.”
Naomi Waqo emphasized the need for accountability. “We need to summon each one of them the CS, PS, and the CEOs to appear and appraise us, they have been taking us round”
Matungulu MP Stephen Mule highlighted the critical role of the committee in shaping the future of sports. “For the record and history to be written about sports in this country squarely depends on this committee, we cannot leave constituencies during recess to come and handle such a lucrative, blue economy and creative economy for the youth of this country and sports Academies yet the ministry is not serious.”
Chairperson Dan Wanyama stated that PS Tum’s behavior has forced the committee to consider harsher measures. “The PS is leading us in circles. We will be left with no choice but to impose sanctions, including fines of up to Ksh 500,000. We are summoning the CS, PS, and CEOs of the Sports Fund and the Kenya Academy of Sports to appear next week on Tuesday at 8:00 AM. Failure to do so will result in the committee invoking the Powers and Privileges Act to take necessary action.”
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