Yesterday, the president Uhuru Kenyatta appointed former Othaya MP Mary Wambui as the Chairperson for the National Employment Authority.
Mary Wambui who was linked to the former President Mwai Kibaki was appointed to the new agency for a period of 3 years.
Immediately, Kenyans online expressed their displeasure. Many took to social media platforms mostly Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook to ‘condemn’ the appointment.
Mary Wambui was working at KANU office before I begun school. That she is old, didn’t go to school & isn’t known for any business employing people are self-evident truths. To make her Chair of National Employment Authority in digital age, Jubilee must be trying Dark Humour!
— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) October 15, 2019
Recently, the National Employment Authority’s stand at the Nairobi Show was the loneliest as most people gave it a wide bearth.
President Kenyatta has over the few years been consistent in appointing old guards to government.
The return of the old guard in Uhuru’s administration is hardly surprising as the trend has been there for all to see.
Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua is 68, well over the mandatory retirement age of 60.
Late last year, former Vice President Moody Awori, 91, was appointed to chair the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund.
President Uhuru also picked Stephen Karogo to chair the Public Service Commission, even though at the point of his nomination, he was slightly over 60 years.
MPs vetting him for the position questioned his ability to adequately serve given that he had hit the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
“Do not focus on my age, rather at the wealth of experience I bring on the table in this new role,” he told the National Assembly Committee on Administration and National Security.
Retired General of the Kenya Defence Forces Julius Karangi chairs the NSSF board after his retirement from the military, while 72-year-old Francis Muthaura is in charge at Kenya Revenue Authority board.
Just last week, the National Assembly approved Esther Murugi to sit in the National Lands Commission, even though she is 66.
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