Nelson Githinji being appointed as the new director general of the National Youth Service (NYS)

Just a week after Kenyans took to social media to bash President Uhuru Kenyatta over his numerous foreign trips at the height of the terror attacks facing country, the President received a similar bashing but this time for a totally different reason: alleged tribe-biased appointments.

“RESTRUCTURING” – NEW NYS DIRECTOR APPOINTED

Early this week, devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru appointed former State House Comptroller Nelson Githinji as director general of the National Youth Service (NYS). Githinji replaced Kiplimo Rugut who had served as the NYS director general for just a year.

On Wednesday evening around 6pm, the administrator of Uhuru’s Facebook page posted the following update, companied by the photos below.

“Today I witnessed the swearing-in of Dr. Nelson Githinji as the new Director General of the National Youth Service. Government is restructuring the National Youth Service to effectively execute its mandate. NYS is critical especially at this time when my Government is keen on ensuring that youth play a key role in the country’s development agenda.”

DISGRUNTLED KENYANS REACT TO NYS APPOINTMENT

What followed was scores of comments from disgruntled Kenyans criticizing the President for yet another ‘tribal appointment’ by the Jubilee government.

Many Kenyans have been angered by recent public appointments, most of which seem to favour only members from a certain community.

Unusually, unlike in most cases where such an outburst would follow along the lines of tribal affiliations with that of the President defending him, this time around the outburst was coming from Uhuru’s own ‘backyard’.

Below are some of the comments;

KIP LENNY KIGEN

“i had faith and still do with my president but appointment of your tribe man is minus score mr.president. We have able Kenyans from other tribe and please balance your government and accommodate all. Ukisoma hii just like and let’s reconcile Kenyans your excellency.”

GEORGE KIRIGA KIMANI

“hahaha..ukuyu ingine amepewa kazi lol..!” [Another kikuyu gets the job.]

LOISE NDUNGU

“Mr Uhuru, these people want to know why Rugut was replaced. They are guessing too much.”

MERCY KARIUKI

“I’m a kiuk but i wil neva irrigate that seeds of tribalism.this is too much! Remember Mr UK what kikuyus will harvest in 2017; IDPS n Genocide. Watch out please before the anger flood from the other 42 tribes comes out.”

KIURA KABIRI

“There has been much grumbling and actually it’s true, that this Government is falling to the vices of the Governments b4 it-TRIBALISM in senior most positions. Every time there is a replacement it’s between 2 communities-KIKUYUS or KALENJINS. Mr. President if you do listen and i hope you dearly do, make a government to be admired, live up to your promise-AN ALL INCLUSIVE GOVERNMENT IRREGARDLESS OF OUR ORIGINS: REACH OUT TO OTHER TRIBES.”

JOHN MACHARIA

“A very disgusted kikuyu I am now, one year down the line sine we overwhelmingly and fanatically voted for you….but your appointments are bringing us nothing better that bitter animosity and hostility. We try as much to relate well with other ethnic communities yet you, H.E the President Uhuru Kenyatta, you keep on widening the rift dug by your predecessors. Ujue ground haiko poa (the situation on the ground is delicate)….Please make a visit to higher institutions of learning and see how many other tribes join those institutions….ALL KENYANS ARE LEARNED AND DESERVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES!”

MUSA THUO

“allow me to call you Uhuru from now because your now becoming a tribal leader ua appointments are making everyone by your name vulnerable segregated quarantined and besieged from every direction by everyone! you are killing our dream of all inclusive Nation Kenya, you are a president of many people, tribes races and religions not a Chief from a village, where do we take the other 41 job seekers if 1 will be the gateman receptionist messenger secretary and the boss, you can never exact your authority by power of force but by power of inclusiveness.”

TOO MUCH CRITICISM FOR UHURU TO BEAR?

Those are just some of the sentiments that were shared on Uhuru’s page but it seems like someone felt that they were just too much for the President for as soon as the lashing intensified, the post was immediately pulled down.

The unprecedented open criticism and discontent from Uhuru’s own ‘backyard’ might not have been deemed to be good for his public image hence the decision to pull the post down but the Kenya Forum can only hope the sentiments shared by Kenyans were noted.