'Azziad is not my girlfriend,' Sports CS Ababu Namwamba clarifies

Youth Affairs and Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba has rubbished reports alleging that he is involved in a romantic relationship with local content creator Azziad Nasenya.

The suave and stylish CS says that the relationship between himself and Azziad is entirely of a professional nature and not a love affair as intimated by his political detractors.

"Azziad is not my girlfriend. We don't have any relationship whatsoever,"  he said in an interview with local news platform Kenyans.

While noting that he had developed thick skin owing to his long political career, Namwamba noted that he sympathizes with Azziad whom he labeled a 'real hustler'.

Azziad was appointed to the now disbanded Talanta Hela Committee on February 9, with Namwamba assigning her a role within the initiative's creative technical committee.

"I actually feel sorry for the girl because we appointed her alongside many other Kenyans to a technical team which we believed would add value in the programmes we are implementing," said Namwamba.

"Why would you want to destroy the reputation of a young person who, in my honest view, is an example of a real hustler that has hustled her way to a space where she can take care of herself and her dependants?"

The CS similarly addressed the social media circulation of a picture of him and Azziad during the launch of Talanta Hela which fueled rumours of a relationship between the two: anyone would pick that particular photo and spin it into something completely inappropriate is absolutely reprehensible," he said.

While acknowledging that it is acceptable for public servants to be scrutinised, Namwamba noted that it is not appropriate for Kenyans to spread rumours and slander the reputation of public servants.

"I believe Azziad has not been treated fairly and I have not been treated fairly. I can take what has come my way because I hold public office and I have no problem with people raising questions about me but Azziad is innocent as I am," he said.