Photo:Swahilihub.com
On Monday April 27, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed new executives to manage parastatals in the country. Several of those appointed to head the state corporations are former cabinet ministers and politicians who lost out in the 2013 general elections.
Among the 302 appointees is Kalembe Ndile who was picked to sit in the Water Services Regulatory Board for a period of three years.
The firebrand politician from Makueni county is the The Independent Party leader and former MP for Kibwezi. He lost twice in a tight race to the incumbent MP Dr. Patrick Musimba, first in the 2013 general elections and later in a by election after he successfully petitioned the elections in a Machakos High Court.
The former legislator who served as assistant minister for Wildlife in the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition (NARC) government is well known for his off the cuff remarks and his appointment to the water regulatory board, his credentials not withstanding has caused a flurry of reactions from Kenyans on social media.
Under the hash tag #KalembeNdile, the TIP leader trended in Twitter for the better part of Monday when the appointments were announced.
Kenyans bashed the president’s appointments with many questioning the need for education if likes of Kalembe could get plum posts in the government without having the necessary qualifications.
The fact that Kalembe was the only appointee trending did not escape the attention of some Kenyans on Twitter.
Some of the comments were also comical, just like the former Kibwezi MP.
While Kenyans on social media criticized the appointment of Kalembe, Makueni residents led by the Governor Kivutha Kibwana took to Facebook to congratulate him.
The appointments by president have continued to draw varying views among Kenyans,with some arguing that the Jubilee government has reneged on its promise to empower the youth by elevating old and tired politicians to senior positions.
However the Deputy President William Ruto has defended the government’s move saying the appointees have immense experience and skills that are valuable in the public service.
