Kisumu, Kenya: CS Ababu Namwamba donated a sum of money to the Manyatta Youth Resource Center (MYRC), during his visit of the institution. The Center is located in the heart of Kondele, in the Lake-side city.
The visit took place on the sidelines of the CECAFA U-18 Boys’ Championships happening in Kisumu.
The Non-profits Community Based Organisation (CBO), has focused on identifying, and nurturing sports talents among other natural gifts in the region. They have been working towards this mandate for over a decade. The work of the organization syncs with the flagship #TalantaHela program.
The cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was impressed by the camp’s overall mission. Thus, he made a personal donation of KES 100,000 to super-charge the noble cause.
He delivered a brief yet important address at the time of making the donation, He reiterated the potential that Sports and the Creative Economy holds in re-shaping and re-routing the lives of youth in a way that equally guarantees sustainable livelihoods.
“Your programs, compliment and align seamlessly with our #TalantaHela initiative that is revolutionizing this critical space of sports and talent development immensely. Let us all maintain the focus and continue unleashing a multifold of next-generation super-stars,” he quipped.
CS Ababu assured that his Ministry will continue its mission of supporting the building of sustainable pool of talented individuals across all sports disciplines. He added that the deliberate, intentional and structured efforts had yielded positive results.
The proof of this claim, according to CS Namwamba can be seen in the ongoing U-18 games. Over 70% of the Kenyan team players in the championship are products of a robust scouting network.
The CS also donated footballs and assortment of sports merchandise. He committed to make the playing field and develop the place as a satellite sports academy under the Kenya Academy of Sports.
He announced that this initiative is part of the ongoing nationwide talent development centres program being rolled out by his Ministry.
CS Ababu Namwamba also visited the Obwolo grounds in Kajulu, for a fact-finding mission on the status of the Kajulu community grounds. He assured that his ministry would upgrade the grounds in line with the Sports and Creative Arts Infrastructure masterplan.
Additionally, he said that this was all part of the mission to grow football from the grassroots. He donated balls to Obwolo FC, as well as making a personal donation of KES 20,000.
The Cabinet Secretary was accompanied by KAS CEO Ms. Doreen Odhiambo among other leaders.