Hassan Wario: MPs didn't give funds to support 'Mzee Ojwang'

The cash-strapped Kenya National Heroes Council (KNHC) has failed to meet its mandate after Parliament refused to allocate it money for this financial year, Sports, Culture and Arts Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario has said.

Mr Wario said KNHC had requested for money to take care of the late Benson Wanjau alias “Mzee Ojwang”, but Parliament failed to grant the allocation.

“It is a pity that Mzee Ojwang died a poor man and that the funds we requested to cater for our local heroes have so far not been honoured, yet there are still many other artists languishing in poverty following completion of their careers,” he said.

Wario said KNHC was established a year ago after the Kenya Heroes Bill, 2013 was passed and assented into law by the President, but it is yet to accomplish anything.

DEAF EARS

“It is now one year down the line since the council was established and our persistent pleas to Parliament to provide funds for our activities have landed on deaf ears,” he said.

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KNHC has the responsibility of providing for the recognition of heroes, establish criteria for their identification, selection and honouring national heroes and to provide for different categories of heroes.

Other functions of the council include establishment of the National Heroes Assistance Fund to cater for the heroes and their registered dependants.

The organisation is also expected to formulate and implement policies relating to national heroes, administer State assistance and be involved in the design and creation of appropriate commemorative items for purposes of honouring heroes.

Wario was speaking at Buguta trading centre in Voi sub-county when he officially flagged off the Mashujaa Peace Walk on Tuesday last week.

The CS said there are many heroes who have positively contributed and selflessly sacrificed for their country and they need to be financially supported.

Present at the function were Governor John Mruttu, County Commissioner Oningoi ole Sosio, Voi MP Jones Mlolwa, National Museums of Kenya (NMK) Director General Mzalendo Kibunjia and Sports Kenya CEO Gabriel Komora.

Others included sports personalities Paul Tergat, Catherine Ndereba, Ibrahim Hussein, Domestic Tourism Association Chair Anastacia Wakesho and county Executives Flora Mtuweta (Community Affairs) and Alexander Mwankega (Tourism).

The 14-day event has been organised by the Domestic Tourism Association and will help promote domestic and cultural tourism in the country.

According to Ms Wakesho, the participants will cover 350 kilometres from July 21 to August 1 and are expected to go through Kasigau hills, Sagala, Voi, Mwatate, Maktau, Wundanyi and Mwanda.

SEEK FUNDING

Dr Kibunjia said so far, 10 historical sites have been gazetted and preserved in the region to promote tourism activities.

“Kenya has a total of six world heritage sites while the world has about 1,000 sites that have been documented and preserved,” he said.

Mr Mruttu said the tourism sector had suffered heavily because of its dependence on foreign tourists.

“Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani fully supports the peace walk since it is geared towards promoting domestic tourism, development and unity of the coastal people,” he said.

The governor said his administration is working closely with NMK to gazette more historical sites, adding that this will benefit locals in terms of employment and poverty alleviation.

Mruttu said his administration has organised Lake Jipe Marathon, to be held next month, which is a step toward promotion of tourism activities at Tsavo West National Park.

Wario also noted that community football clubs are poorly managed across the country.

POORLY MANAGED

“Most of these community clubs are poorly managed and cannot even raise tickets for their players to play beyond their county.

“Club managers need to find ways of attracting finances,” he said.

The Cabinet Secretary cautioned the youth against use of drugs, saying the vice is detrimental to their development and would ruin their lives.

The sponsors of the event were General Motors, Coca Cola, National Cohesion and Integration Commission, the county government and the Music Copyright Society of Kenya.