Talanta Hela launch preparations on course despite court order
Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts, Mr Ababu Namwamba, has said that preparations for the launch of the Talanta Hela programme are on course, despite a court order suspending the process.
Namwamba spoke on Tuesday after chairing a meeting of the planning committee to assess the readiness for the official launch of the programme by President William Ruto on June 2, 2023.
“We are collaborating with the Ministry of Education as well as the Ministry of ICT to ensure that we are able to identify talents from schools and the communities from all corners of our republic,” Namwamba said.
The Talanta Hela programme is a flagship project of the Kenya Kwanza government that aims at monetizing talent using existing government institutions, including the Kenya Academy of Sports and Kenya Film School.
The programme has been met with mixed reactions, with some people supporting it and others criticizing it.
Those who support the programme argue that it will help to identify and nurture talent in Kenya. They also argue that it will help to create jobs and boost the economy.
Those who criticize the programme argue that it is a waste of money and that it will not be effective. They also argue that it is a political gimmick.
The court order suspending the process of launching the Talanta Hela programme was issued by the High Court in Nairobi on May 19, 2023.
The order was issued in response to a petition filed by a group of Kenyans who argued that the programme was unconstitutional.
The petitioners argued that the programme violates the right to equality and the right to education.
They also argued that the programme is a waste of public resources.
The government has said that it will appeal the court order.
The launch of the Talanta Hela programme is a major undertaking for the Kenya Kwanza government.
The success of the programme will depend on a number of factors, including the availability of resources, the quality of implementation, and the support of the public.