Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba on Wednesday heaped praises on the Talanta Hela Programme saying the initiative was helping sportsmen and women exploit their full potential by identifying, nurturing, and developing talent across the country.
CS Namwamba, who spoke during a dinner for Shujaa at a city hotel, said the initiative which was Kenya Kwanza’s sports flagship project was the catalyst for the national men’s rugby team’s upturn in form.
Shujaa shot back to the lucrative World Rugby Series after defeating Germany in the promotion-relegation playoffs held last weekend in Madrid.
“The success of this team (Shujaa) has reinforced my belief in the Talanta Hela Programme of having a deliberate, intentional, and structured talent pipeline,” Namwamba underscored the program’s role in sustaining Kenya’s sporting excellence.
He further outlined how the Talanta Hela Programme was designed to continuously feed national teams, preventing the pitfalls of the past.
While reflecting on Kenya 7s’ previous relegation from the HBSC series, he cited the absence of a robust talent pipeline as a critical factor.
“We forgot that even the best players reach their peak and eventually leave the scene. As they leave, you must have a pipeline to continue replenishing,” he noted, referencing the departure of stalwarts like Humphrey Kayange, William Ambaka, Collins Injera, and Bill Odhiambo.
The CS highlighted the Kenya national Under-20 rugby team, known as “Chipu,” as a shining example of this pipeline in action.
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