- PS Tum revealed that the funds were spent on financing various activities geared towards improving standards in the country.
- "Kenyans have made value for the money disbursed to the ministry to fund the initiatives," Tum said.
Image: FILE
Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum says the government has spent up to up Sh532 million on Talanta Hela Initiatives since inception.
President William Ruto launched the Talanta Hela initiative on June 28, 2023, to promote youth's creativity and talents.
Tum revealed that the funds were spent on financing various activities geared towards improving standards in the country.
He spoke on Tuesday when he appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Sports.
"Kenyans have made value for the money disbursed to the ministry to fund the initiatives," Tum said.
During the launch, Ruto said the initiative, which is in line with government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, aims at identifying, recruiting, nurturing, marketing and monetising talent.
"The initiative will also promote and inculcate the value of sports to local athletes in various disciplines besides striving to impart good values of the game to them," he said.
The government has also commenced the construction Talanta Sports City at Jamhuri Grounds which will boost sports activities.
President Ruto launched construction of the 60,000 seat capacity stadium Friday last week.
He said the Ministry of Defense must also ensure the stadium is built to world-class standards.
"While the Defense Ministry will be doing weekly supervisions, I will personally supervise the progress achieved every three months," he said.
The stadium is being constructed ahead of the AFCON 2027 which Kenya will co-host with her neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba said the design of the Talanta Stadium has three levels and draws its concept from the shield and two spears on Kenya’s national emblem.
"Talanta Stadium will only host football, rugby and concerts and not athletics," the CS clarified.
The project is also set to work with the education system to identify schools that will act as academies and nurture certain sports.
Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama who chairs the Sports Committee said Kenyans have made value for the money disbursed to the Ministry to fund the initiatives.
Wanyama also assured the Ministry of the Committee's commitment to support their agenda of revitalising sports in the country.
"The Sports Ministry to set up 11 sports academies in selected constituencies with a long-term plan to establish such facilities in all constituencies in the country,” he said.