Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports Ababu Namwamba has stated after Kenyans pressured him to make public names of the non-athletes who will be attending the Olympic games in Paris 2024.
According to Namwamba, the mandate for drafting the final list of those going to Paris lies in the hands of the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK).
In that accord, Namwamba has directed NOCK to make public the full Kenya delegation for the Paris Olympics 2024.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary General of the National Olympics Committee, Francis Mutuku, Ababu said;
"Finalisation of the Team Kenya delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympics comprised of athletes, officials, and medics, detailing the specific role of each member of the delegation.
He added" The delegation is to be kept at the barest minimum as directed by myself and affirmed by the PMC. The priority is athletes, their coaches, and medics. "
The directive mandates NOCK to reveal the names and roles of all athletes, officials, and medics selected for the Olympic Games.
"Rationalisation of the provisional budget initially agreed between NOCK and the Principal Secretary/Accounting Officer for the State Department of Sports. The final budget to reflect the actual number of qualified athletes, revised scale of allowances and rewards for athletes (Revised 2023), and the austerity measures the Ministry is implementing across all expenditure centers."
"Preparation of a detailed report on the process, status and cost of the ceremonial, training and competition kit for Team Kenya procured by NOCK. Please do note that both the Team Kenya Delegation and the final budget to be presented at the next meeting of the MC. Do further note that in line with the Government's transparency and accountability policy, the full Team Kenya delegation should be made public by NOCK."
He finished off by wishing Team Kenya good health and great success as they fly the national flag on the world's grandest sporting stage.
"Please do accept, dear brother Secretary General, the assurances of my highest regard."
Pressure from the Public
Ababu's statement comes amid pressure from a section of Kenyans to have him make public the list of non-athlete persons who will accompany the Olympic team to Paris.
Three Kenyans want the ministry to release full details of those traveling, failure to which they will seek legal action.
Charleen Njuguna, Jolly Lanji, and Baverlyne Kwamboka, through their lawyers, have expressed concern about the cost to Kenyan taxpayers.
Last week, as Ababu and President William Ruto flagged off the team at State House, he affirmed that there would be no room for joyriders.
"There's no space, there's no room for joyriders in Paris. There's only space for Team Kenya to fly the country's flag high," Ababu said.
"Even the government delegation is going to be at its barest minimum. We have to tighten the belt."
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