Mgala muue, haki mpe. Even if you dislike a person, you must give them their due credit. Today, as Kenyans dance to the rhythm of football victories and celebrate the remarkable milestones our national teams are recording, we must pause and acknowledge one man who set the stage, Ababu Namwamba.
When history is written about the revival of Kenyan football, his name should not be sidelined. In 2022, when he took over as Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports, and the Arts, the sports sector was in tatters.
Stadiums were crumbling, players were demoralized, and Kenya was even staring at international bans due to governance issues. It was Ababu who stepped in and laid the foundation for the restoration we are now witnessing.
His first major assignment was infrastructure. Ababu moved with urgency to ensure stadiums across the country were not just painted but renovated to modern standards. Kasarani, Nyayo, Kipchoge Keino, Bukhungu, and others saw real investment in facilities. For a country that had grown used to empty promises, this was refreshing. Today, as our players showcase their talent in improved grounds, the link between these renovations and current success cannot be ignored.
Second, he anchored players on a predictable path. Ababu understood that talent alone cannot thrive without structure. He invested in grassroots sports and supported initiatives that put young players on a clear developmental ladder from academies, to local leagues, to the national team.
That is why we now have a pipeline of stars who are not only skilled but also disciplined and professionally prepared.
Third, his reforms extended beyond football. Athletics, boxing, rugby, and even the creative arts felt his touch. But it is in football, the heartbeat of Kenyan passion, that his legacy shines most brightly. Ababu was willing to get his hands dirty in an area where many had failed. He faced criticism, he faced resistance, yet he soldiered on.
Of course, it was not an easy tenure. Critics often accused him of prioritizing sports at the expense of youth programs. They said he was too flamboyant, too focused on appearances.
But in hindsight, this was not vanity, it was a deliberate strategy to put Kenyan sports back on the map. And today, as Harambee Stars and Harambee Starlets inspire hope once again, we see that his persistence paid off.
His reform credentials cannot be erased by politics or public opinion. The current wave of success is not an accident, it is a continuation of a journey he started. For that reason, the Ambassador deserves to be named among the heroes of this era.
As fate would have it, at this very moment of national sporting pride, Ababu is mourning the passing of his beloved mother. Life has a way of balancing triumph and sorrow. But as he walks through this valley, Kenyans must remind him, we celebrate you.
Ababu Namwamba is a man of many firsts and many successes. His imprint on Kenyan sports is bold, undeniable, and lasting. Long after the final whistle of his public service career is blown, Kenyans will look back and say: “This was the man who restored faith in our game.”
Thank you, Ababu. We will remember you.
By Billy Mijungu
