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Last week President William Ruto disbanded his entire Cabinet following numerous calls from Kenyans to rein in non-performing Cabinet Ssecretaries, but it shocked me that Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba found himself as part of the collateral damage.

Namwamba, who was making a second stint in the ministry after briefly serving as a Minister of Sports in the coalition government led by President Mwai Kibaki in 2013, was a whirlwind of activity, tirelessly working to elevate sporting in Kenya.

His dedication was evident in the countless hours he devoted to his role, fostering a strong work ethic that inspiring those around him. I can confess that journalists sometimes struggled to keep up with his pace as he could oversee or attend even up to four key events a day at different locations.

His scorecard after 100 days in office was impressive. When he took the mantle, Kenyan sports was on its knees, the country’s athletics was on the edge, just about to be banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but he managed to thwart the unimaginable by asking for more time from the global authorities to allow him to rein in the culprits through the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, and it worked.

During the same time, the country had been banned by World Aquatics and there had been no football for more than one year and a half, because of sanctions from the world football governing body Fifa due to government interference.

Namwamba worked round the clock to ensure the sanctions were lifted and, with the help of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa and sporting officials in Uganda and Tanzania, put up a formidable ‘Pamoja Bid’ that earned the region its first ever CAF Africa Cup of Nations hosting rights, with the event slated for 2027 in the three countries.

Under his watch, through proper team preparation and a close working relationship with FKF, Kenya qualified for its first ever Fifa World Cup, in which the national Under 17 girls team will be representing Africa later this year in the Dominican Republic.

He also took a leading role in ensuring a review of the reward scheme for athletes, who will now earn Sh5 million for a world record, Sh3 million for a gold medal, and Sh1 million for silver and bronze medals.

These kinds of rewards act as a major motivation for sportsmen and would easily result in several medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games. Previously a gold, silver and bronze medallist at the Olympic and Paralympic Games was awarded Sh750,000, Sh500,000, and Sh350,000 respectively.

The Talanta Hela initiative that he guarded with passion continues to empower young people by developing their talents and turning them into income sources. The initiative goes beyond just identifying talents. It aims to equip young people with skills and resources to turn those talents into a way to make a living. Talanta Hela covers both sports and creative talents, like music and filmmaking.

Overall, Talanta Hela represents an effort to tap into Kenya’s youthful population and empower them to be economically productive through their talents.

Namwamba was not just passionate about sports; he was a shrewd strategist. His sharp intellect is evident in the well-crafted policies he implemented, fostering an environment that supports and grooms Kenyan athletic talent. He understood the intricacies of the sporting world and used his knowledge to make strategic decisions that would propel Kenyan athletes to the forefront of international competition.

He is a gifted communicator, captivating audiences with his eloquence, and a good negotiator who attracted corporates into the sporting industry. He possesses a way with words that can ignite passion for sports in even the most casual observer.

— The writer is People Daily’s Sports Editor and President of the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya