Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has upheld that the Talanta Hela Initiative is one giant step towards transforming Kenyan sports as well as the arts and entertainment scene. The program that was created by President William Ruto and spearheaded by CS Namwamba was suspended by the High Court following a section of stakeholders raising concerns over its mandates, as some of its roles clashed with those of different federations.Despite this, the C.S identified the program as a cornerstone of the bottom-up ideology of the Kenya Kwanza government, which is focused on the socioeconomic empowerment of all Kenyan classes. “We are very clear in our minds that we need a coherent, structured, deliberate, intentional plan to turn talent into livelihoods and that is what Talanta Hela is. It is about turning talents into money into livelihoods. Whatever talents our young people have, Talanta Hela wants to turn it into an income-generating livelihood for you,” the CS said.According to Namwamba, the Inter-County Bottom Up Football Tournament will pit teams from the 47 counties and is aimed at growing talents beyond football.“The ignition for the Talanta Hela program is the Inter-County Bottom Up Football Tournament. This year, we are starting with football; next year we expand to other arrays of sporting disciplines. While the tournament will be going on, we will be having other artistic, creative activities alongside football,” Namwamba said.Meanwhile the Sports CS has also announced plans to demistify golf in the country. AFC Leopards youngster goes AWOL##NAJAVA_MECA_7292311##The plans are aimed at breaking down the barriers that have long hindered the widespread participation of golf in Kenya. Golf has long been considered a sport for the elite, a myth that scares middle-class citizens from participating, the CS opines.Speaking on Monday at the Sanaa Centre when he received the national junior golfers’ team who finished third at the recent All Africa Junior Golf Championships in Uganda, the CS said that the government will construct public golf courses around the country as well as establish academies in schools as part of a larger effort to demystify the sport and encourage participation. The girls’ team comprising Belinda Wanjiru, Chanelle Wangari, and Audrey Gachora finished third and the boys’ team of Lee Kimathi, Kris Shah, Junaid Manji, and Mikael Kihara finished sixth in their competition.The program, according to the CS, is part of the government’s implementation of the bottom-up policy in an effort to help the country reclaim its position as a hub of sporting excellence. “We are also sending a strong message that golf is not an elitist sport that is painted to be. We are making golf a people sport…a sport that everyone can be a part of. And one of the things the ministry will be rolling out under the Talanta Hela program is to provide public golf courses and golf academies within the schooling ecosystem,” Namwamba said.To achieve what seems like a far-fetched dream, the CS urged the devolved units to work with his ministry to ensure more people access the sport.“So, those of you who have spaces within your counties, we are calling on you to work together with us on this. You know that Kenya is a significant golfing country. We already host two significant global golf tournaments in this country (Magical Kenya Open and Magical Kenya Ladies Open),” he said.Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) president Regina Gachora also welcomed the idea, saying that they were ready to join hands with the ministry to actualize the plan.“The girls finished third for the first time ever. One of the promises we made was to return the national flag that was given to us and to also present the trophy that we won in Uganda. Here at JGF, we are working to grow the game of golf just like the bottom-up model and we look forward to working with you to grow the game of golf,” she said.
