Comedian Daniel Ndambuki better known as Churchill, musician Wahu, social media content creator Azziad Nasenya, Sports commentator Carol Radull and musician Esther Akoth better known as Akothee have been barred from taking up appointments on the Talanta Hela Initiative after the High Court suspended its implementation.
The Talanta Hela Council which has two technical committees, one for sports headed by Radull and one for creatives headed by Churchill, was spearheaded by Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba with the blessing of President Ruto. The council was gazetted on February 10.
Other members of the Creative Technical Committee are Akinyi Odongo, actor presenter Jimmy Gathuu, actress Catherine Kamau, Kizito Makhande, Awadhi Salim Awadhi, Douglas Kipkurui and Langat Susan Ekasiba.
The matter was brought before the court by petitioner and creative enthusiast Charles Mugane in March citing there was a contravention of the laws of the land and the constitution in the committee’s formation.
The petition further states that the appointments were made without adherence to the national governance values and principles – public participation, transparency and accountability.
“Certainly, no selection process has been shown as to how the eleven were arrived at from the massive eight million Kenyans on the TikTok platform from which the appointees appear to have been drawn. Your (Namwamba’s) actions above are in flagrant disregard of the law which our client will not countenance,” Mugane Advocates said in court papers.
Mugane further wants transparency in the budget allocation that supports the council’s work.
