A speech by President Uhuru’s daughter Ngina Kenyatta on unemployment has elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans on social media.
In her speech at the Africa Philanthropy Conference in Nairobi on Saturday, Ngina urged African youth to venture into new and innovative fields as a way of addressing unemployment.
Ngina, who spoke in her capacity as the Director of the Kenyatta Trust, noted that young people should seek skills that match the economic and development needs of their society.
“There is a saying; give a man a fish and feed him for one day but show him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” she quoted Lao Tsu.
She said Kenyatta Trust uses the same principle to help Kenyans deal with joblessness and gave an example of a student from Turkana who the organization sponsored for his high school studies and is now studying Petroleum Engineering in China.
“We come from a continent of immense greatness and it is now our time as the youth to address and find solutions to the issue of unemployment by going into new and innovative fields. I believe through partnerships we have an opportunity to make real progress in realizing these gems,” she added.
The Africa Philanthropy Forum is a network of organizations and individuals in 12 African countries who believe that charity has a role in the development of the continent.
The conference held in Nairobi brough together philanthropists from the African continent, government officials and other delegates.
President Kenyatta, his mother Mama Ngina and Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia were among the attendees.
Reacting to Ngina’s speech, many Kenyans online were of the opinion that she was not the best person to talk about unemployment given her family background.
@Moha001_Onyango tweeted: “Ngina Kenyatta speaks impeccable English… Very good English but she doesn’t understand the suffering of Wanjiku nor the bad economy caused by her moribund & inept father.”
@allen_arnold said: “How ironical? Ngina Kenyatta talking of youth empowerment in Kenya while her dad, President Uhuru Kenyatta called youths thieves, he’s dishing out jobs to fossils and he’s masterminding the looting of our youths’ future. Hii Kenyatta family haituheshimu ata kidogo.”
@Dmarigiri_posed: “How can a Born in a wealthy family advice ordinary Kenyan youths??…? It’s like Carnivore advising herbivore on the merits of eating Flesh and She doesn’t know what poverty means. The only thing Ngina Kenyatta has is impeccable English.”
@_MrAbraham noted: “Wait a minute, does Ngina Kenyatta know: 1. Kibandaski?
2. How being a jobless graduate feels like? ?
3. Govt jobs require at least 7+ years experience? ?
4. 7 yrs ago her dad promised 1Mn jobs per year for the youth that he’s not delivered?
5. Githeriman was a hero?”
@geraldngaopk quipped: “Dear Ngina Kenyatta, Kindly Lecture your fellow Millionaires. Do you know how much a packet of Unga Costs? Do you know fare ya Embassava ni how much? Anyway Uko State House Mimi Niko Mathare Ghetto.”
@Aketch_Aketch said: “In short #KOTLoyals have rejected the message on youth empowerment from Ngina Kenyatta.”
@kiptoomanuu noted: “How can Ngina Kenyatta whose father is the president, and grandfather former president advise the common youth on how to beat unemployment?.. Waiter ongeza tot hapa?.”
@OuyaVivianne stated: “The unmitigated audacity of Ngina Kenyatta to also position her privileged mouth to tell Kenyan youth about solutions to unemployment! I just have to laugh! Sis, just sit somewhere and eat caviar like the princess you are. Don’t patronize us. We will eat you.”
