Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1280171,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1280171/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 211,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ababu Namwamba",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "engage with the House on a number of activities that the Ministry is responsible for. I will seek your indulgence in the course of this submission to share with you a bit of other information that touches on the work of this Ministry which particularly sets the environment or the ecosystem within which the two particular Questions have been set. Hon. Speaker, just as a matter of providing some background, as a Ministry we are very alive to the value of sports in this country. In fact, it is the mantra of this Ministry and its belief that Kenya’s number one export to the world is our sportsmen and women. They do more in branding this country and in bringing honour to this country than anything else. Therefore, I want to assure this House that as a Ministry we are fully committed to addressing the myriad challenges confronting this important sector. When we came to office 10 months ago, we inherited a sporting scene with a number of critical challenges. Allow me, Hon. Speaker, to quickly share those challenges because they are relevant to the two issues that you have invited me here to share. First, we found a country that was under suspension by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA); Kenya had been suspended by FIFA from all international footballing activities. That suspension had a very costly impact on sporting in this country. Harambee Stars and Harambee Starlets were locked out of competitions to qualify for African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the World Cup. I am glad to report to this House that among our first order of business was to engage FIFA very quickly and I sought and got an appointment with the FIFA President, Mr. Gianni Infantino, and within one month that suspension was lifted. I am very glad to report to this House that last Saturday, 19th of August 2023, Kenya formally returned to international football with the participation of Kakamega Home Boys hosting the Libyan side Al-Hilal in the first round of CAF Confederation Cup. Hon. Speaker, the second challenge we inherited was a looming ban…"
}