Sports and Arts Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba, on Friday, June 9, revoked the establishment of the Talanta Hela council and technical committee.
In a Gazette Notice dated June 9, 2023, the CS revoked Gazette Notice No 1649 of 2023, which had announced the appointment of various creatives to the council.
Popular TikToker Azziad Nasenya, renowned musicians Akothee and Wahu Kagwi, and popular comedian Daniel ‘Churchill’ Ndambuki were among the state job appointees.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts has revoked Gazette Notice No 1649 of 2023,” reads the notice.
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The CS did not explain why the appointments were revoked. The latest move follows the High Court’s order that suspended the establishment of the Talanta Hela Committee, which Namwamba had initiated with the aim of nurturing grassroots talents.
This was after Creative enthusiast Charles Mugane moved to the court challenging the appointments, which he said were biased and hand-picked without any consideration for merit.
“Pending the hearing and determination of this application inter parties, an interim order be and is hereby issued suspending the special issue of the Kenya Gazette Notice 1649(Vol.CXXV No.32) dated February 10, 2023 publishing the establishment of the Talanta Hela Council and its Technical Committees and consequent appointments for a period of 3 years effective from February 10, 2023,” ruled justice Lawrence Mugambi on May 23, 2023.
The Talanta Hela was set to be launched by President William Ruto at the State House on Friday, June 9.