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{
"id": 1397955,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1397955/?format=api",
"text_counter": 318,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Ababu Namwamba",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports",
"speaker": null,
"content": "preferred site to us. Hon. Yegon and the leadership of Bomet, you showed us the site, and we will proceed with the project. The Hon. Deputy Speaker has raised the big issue of conflict of interest in Athletics Kenya. Certainly, it is a big issue. If you look at the laws and operations of many of these federations, you will find that they act with impunity because of the so-called cover of parent international federations. You are always threatened with the excuse of third-party interference. It has happened to this country previously, especially with football. These are issues that certainly have to be dealt with. What I can assure this House is that we have given very firm notice to the Football Kenya Federation, Athletics Kenya, and all the federations in this country that obeying the law is not a choice. Obeying the law is an imperative. We have noted the issue that the Hon. Deputy Speaker has raised. I want to give the assurance that we certainly will be picking them up for action. On the question of sporting facilities in schools from the Hon. Member for Funyula, it is critical the natural domicile of talents in this country is schools. That is where 99 per cent of our talents are domiciled. It is imperative that we target schools as the primary source of the talent development pipeline. If you look at our Talanta Hela initiative, you will find that the pipeline is anchored in schools. That is why the funding for school ballgames, drama, film, and music festivals, as well as all the talent processes going on in schools, was taken over by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports. We support those activities and provide the pipeline for the development of those talents through the Kenya Academy of Sports, the Kenya Film Commission, the National Theatre, and the Kenya Film School. We have been able to join those dots, something that did not exist before. On the question of improving facilities in schools, we have already started. The 45 centres I have mentioned here are all school-based. They will provide the ignition—the beginning points of improving facilities in our schools to support this ecosystem of talent in our schools. In Taita-Taveta, we are in conversation with the Hon. Governor. We were on the phone two days ago discussing the situation of Taita-Taveta. He indicated to me on the phone that the land is available to do a facility in Taita Taveta, and it is something we will be progressing with. Hon. Koimburi, Karatu stadium in Gatundu, Kiambu County, was one of the troubled stadia. It is the stadia that I mentioned at the beginning that we subjected to audit and assessment, but the construction is now back. We have made it clear to the contractor that Karatu has taken too long and that the construction has to be accelerated. We want it to be completed. There are also some adjustments we are planning to make to Kirigiti. We want to open Kirigiti Stadium to the public pretty soon. So Kirigiti and Karatu should, in the meantime, serve the people and the sportsmen and women of Kiambu County. In Nandi County, I am glad to report that we have already advertised the construction of Kipchoge Keino Stadium. We advertised, and I believe the conclusion of the procurement should be at a very advanced stage for constructing the Kipchoge Keino Stadium. As academies go, Koitalel Samoei Academy is one of the priority academies in the master plan in appreciation of the immense contribution that Nandi County continues to make to the sporting ecosystem of our country. The other question is from Hon. Timothy of Elgeyo-Marakwet. Again, I am very happy to report that we have finally advertised the construction of Kamarin Stadium. In our plan, it is more than just a stadium. It is both a stadium and an elite high-altitude training centre. The air around Kamarin is just in its own league. The suitability of training in Elgeyo Marakwet is on another scale. That is a priority project. Alongside this project, we will also be improving the Iten and Chepkorio grounds, as well as another space called Chepkorio Secondary School and The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
}