Lupita says Najib Balala’s claims of her being inaccessible are ‘alternative facts’

Kenyan Holywood actress Lupita Nyong’o has reacted to a statement made by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala explaining why she was not picked as Magical Kenya’s international ambassador.

CS Balala on Friday claimed that his ministry had unsuccessfully tried to get in touch with Lupita Nyong’o for five years now before opting for British supermodel Naomi Campbell for the position, a move that elicited mixed reactions.

“I know everybody is asking why not Lupita. Lupita has commitments and her managers cannot allow us to access her. We’ve spent the last five years looking for Lupita,” Mr Balala said.

He was speaking at Kenyatta University during the issuance of certificates to 60 researchers who did studies on the impacts of COVID-19 on travel and tourism industry in Kenya last year.

Taking to social media, Lupita shared a photo laughing and captioned it: “Me when I hear the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism has been looking for me for fives years. #Imrightherebaby #alternativefacts #NikoWakanda.”

Me when I hear the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism has been looking for me for fives years. #Imrightherebaby #alternativefacts pic.twitter.com/jHmEVMSaI9

— Lupita Nyong'o (@Lupita_Nyongo) January 22, 2021

Balala defended the appointment of Naomi Campbell saying: “We have a framework to work around her and she accepted to do it for free. She offered herself because of her love and commitment to Kenya. We are now working on the details on how do we use her to promote the destination.”