CS Namwamba Shifts Pressure on Olympics Delegation List to NOCK.

In a move to address the growing public pressure, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has shifted the responsibility of releasing the full list of individuals slated to travel to France for the 2024 Olympics to the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK).

In a statement issued on Thursday, CS Namwamba clarified that NOCK has been assigned the daunting task of collaborating with the Preparatory and Management Committee (PMC) to manage logistics ahead of the Paris competitions. NOCK's responsibilities include compiling a finalized list of athletes, officials, and medics, and detailing each member's specific role.

"The delegation to be kept at the barest minimum as directed by myself and affirmed by the PMC. The priority is athletes, their coaches and medics," Namwamba emphasized.

CS Namwamba Shifts Pressure on Olympics Delegation List to NOCK.

Additionally, NOCK has been tasked with providing a comprehensive breakdown of the trip's budget, including the actual number of qualified athletes, a revised scale of allowances, and athlete rewards, all within the ministry's austerity guidelines. They must also deliver a detailed report on the process, status, and cost of Team Kenya's ceremonial, training, and competition kits.

"We wish Team Kenya good health and great success as they fly our national flag on the world's grandest sporting stage," Namwamba added.

The pressure on Namwamba has intensified, particularly from renowned content creator Dennis Ombachi, who has expressed concerns about the potential inclusion of unnecessary individuals in the delegation. Ombachi has vowed to hold the ministry accountable for its actions and ensure transparency.

In response to Ombachi's concerns, Namwamba extended an invitation to discuss the issues and streamline the ministry's processes. "My joy is the growth of sports in Kenya as a key economic driver, and the sustainable success of sportsmen and women. I would be glad to host you, and many others, on a day of your choice, for a public forum where we would, foremost, listen to you all, before we share on the work of the ministry, since I took over, and the vision that I have for the Ministry," Namwamba wrote on X.

"It would be great having you, and many others, as accountability partners in this journey. Waiting to hear on When and Where. X or the Ministry?"

Despite these efforts, the public remains adamant about the need for transparency, with some Kenyans even resorting to legal action to demand the release of the list. The clamor for accountability continues as the nation awaits the final decisions regarding the Olympic delegation.