Outgoing Cabinet Secretary(CS) for Tourism & Wildlife Najib Balala’s hope for a comeback is dangling by a thread as the new government is set to take over on Tuesday, September 13.
Balala has given subtle appeals suggesting that he would still want to keep the job despite serving as a minister and a CS in various dockets for the last 15 years in both Kibaki and Uhuru’s tenure.
While many Kenyans hold varied views, lawyer Miguna Miguna branded Balala’s efforts to cling to power as “selfish”.
Miguna asked him to move on reminding him of the unemployment crisis currently facing the country.
“To my friend Najib Balala (@tunajibu), you are NOT the only Kenyan who was born to serve as cabinet secretary for tourism. You have held that position for more than 15 years. That’s enough. Move on. Retire. Find something else to do. There are 35 million UNEMPLOYED KENYANS,” he wrote on Twitter.
This follows his speech during the release of a report on the performance of Kenya’s tourism sector, where, the CS expressed that he was looking forward to serving in the next government whenever necessary.
“I am happy and humbled and I thank President Kenyatta for giving me the chance to serve the nation I welcome President Ruto and I am ready to serve in his government whenever it’s necessary,” Balala stated.
Adding;
“I know by Tuesday we will cease being ministers because Uhuru’s government will cease on Tuesday and Ruto’s government will start and that is the time when we might be called to stay until the new appointees take over or we will be told to go home and wait to hand over.”
Najib Balala has served as Tourism CS for the past seven years following his appointment in 2015.
Before that, he was minister for Mining from 2013 to 2015 when President Uhuru Kenyatta took over.
During Kibaki’s government, Balala served in various dockets including the Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services ministry from 2003 to 2004 and national heritage and culture between 2004 and 2005.
Between 2008 to 2012 he was Minister for Tourism.
