MAUREEN WARUINGE ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST

26 August 2023

• He also asked Kenyans to leave her alone.

CS for youth affairs, the arts and sports Ababu Namwamba was put on the hot seat Friday, August 25 in an interview where he was challenged to address rumours that he is in a relationship with content creator Azziad Nasenya.

A short clip of the interview was made available on social media site of Kenyans.co.ke. The CS insisted they are not romantically involved.

"No she is not. Azziad is not my girlfriend We don't have any relationship whatsoever," he began after the interviewer straight out asked if they were dating.

The CS said, "I actually feel sorry for the poor girl, you know me, me Im Ababu Nammwaba I have been in the trenches and you know when you have worked in these public spaces played politics, you grow the skin of a crocodile, on top of a hippo covered by the skin of a buffalo" he defended himself.

Namwamba added, "You grow a thick one and so you can take all sorts of ..but people who have not really circulated in this space I feel for them so I feel for Azziad. I feel bad I feel bad for Azziad because we appointed Azziad alongside many other Kenyans to a technical team which is we believed would add value in the programs that we are progressing that we are implementing. Why anyone would pick that particular photo and turn it into actually spin it not turn it into something completely inappropriate is absolutely reprehensible. Absolutely reprehensible."

"I would say that while it is absolutely acceptable to put public servants and public officers under scrutiny it is also not fair. to spread rumors and to slander the character of innocent people. It is certainly not right. And while you may want to scrutinize Ababu ok, why do you want to destroy the reputation of a young person who really inmy honest view is an example of a real hustler that has hustled her way to a space where she can take care of herself and maybe her family."

He termed the cyberbullying Azziad is being put through as unfair.

"I believe Azziad has not been treated fairly I have not been treated fairly myself I can take what has come my way because I hold public office and I have no problem people raising questions about me but Azziad is innocent as I am, yeah," he finished.