Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has sensationally distanced himself from the alleged Sh11 billion Talanta Stadium scandal, shifting blame to his successors, Kipchumba Murkomen and Salim Mvurya.
His remarks come in the wake of revelations by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu that Sh10.85 billion in public funds is unaccounted for in the multi-billion-shilling stadium project.
“I Left the Project in Perfect Health”
In a strongly worded statement, Namwamba maintained that the project was stable and properly structured when he exited office.
“A project I conceived, curated, and left in perfectly good health subsequently ran into a typhoon after my departure,” he said, adding that he thanked God for “dodging a bullet.”
The former CS insisted that he should not be linked to the financial irregularities flagged in the audit report.
Cost Escalation Raises Red Flags
According to the audit findings, the project’s cost ballooned from the National Treasury-approved Sh35 billion to Sh45.85 billion, reflecting an unexplained increase of Sh10.85 billion.
Auditors also questioned the procurement process, citing lack of proper clearance before the contract award.
Namwamba called for accountability, stating:
“Whoever is responsible for any loss of public funds must be held FULLY RESPONSIBLE. I thank God for dodging a bullet here!”
Pressure Mounts Over Public Funds
The Talanta Stadium project, which is expected to host key matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, has now come under intense public scrutiny.
With billions of shillings in question, pressure is mounting on the government to conduct a comprehensive probe and determine responsibility for the alleged financial mismanagement.
