Ababu Namwamba Defends Onslaught By UDA Legislators In Parliament: "I Wouldn't Call It Witch Hunt"

• Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba dismissed claims that a section of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party MPs had a vendetta against him
• Namwamba explained that from the interaction, he had noted that the MPs needed to be more involved in how the Ministry conducts its activities
• Namwamba explained that through the interactions, he had made it clear to the MPs that sports funding in Kenya needed to be improved

Nairobi - Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has dismissed allegations that United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party MPs are targeting him for political reasons.

Addressing journalists outside the parliament building after his intense questioning on Wednesday, August 23, Ababu said he wouldn't consider it a witch hunt.

Namwamba explained that from the interaction, he had noted that the MPs needed to be more involved in how the Ministry conducts its activities.

'They say even the devil knows not what goes on in a man's mind. All I can deal with is what I see. All I can say is that I would want more of these kinds of engagement because it gives the opportunity to share information, to clarify issues, and one of the issues I've seen is that we need MPs to get to know more about the work of federations, be more involved in the agenda we have to improve management of sports," he said.

The CS expressed his desire to have more frequent and constructive dialogue with the August House to address various issues in his portfolio.

"These interactions are good, I wouldn't call it a witch hunt, I would call it a useful interaction, and there should be more of these," he added.

Why Kenya sports is struggling

Namwamba explained that through the interactions, he had made it clear to the MPs that sports funding in Kenya needed to be improved.

The CS termed the current funding as very low, adding that the sports fund meant for sporting activities catered for numerous activities.

"These interactions also help reinforce the reality that sports funding in this country is still very low. The sports fund, for example, is supposed to support sports, but it supports so many things. With this kind of interaction, you build a better understanding," he said.

Bensuda passionately defends Namwamba

During the Wednesday, August 23 afternoon session, Homa Bay county woman representative Joyce Atieno Bensuda blasted Kenya Kwanza Alliance leaders for unfairly targeting Namwamba.

Bensuda passionately defended the embattled CS, arguing that the questions posed by senior Kenya Kwanza Alliance MPs were intended to sacrifice Namwamba.

According to Bensuda, the MPs were dwelling on petty issues instead of giving Namwamba time to explain himself regarding the problems facing his docket.