President Kenyatta defends appointing 91-year-old Moody Awori

President Kenyatta defends appointing 91-year-old Moody Awori

President Uhuru Kenyatta has defended appointing former Vice President Moody Awori to an oversight board to manage the Sports, Art and Social Development Fund.

The 91-year-old Awori is part of a seven-member oversight board gazetted by Finance Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich to manage the Fund formerly known as the National Sports Fund.

Majority of Kenyans did not take the news well wondering why the nonagenarian is still being offered such opportunities in a country full of able young people who would do a much better job.

But the President, speaking during a graduation ceremony for Kenya Commercial Banks 2Jiajiri initiative, said corruption was in his mind when he chose Mr. Awori over others.

“I’m being critisised that I am appointing a 91-year-old to look after the Youth Sports Fund. But put yourself in my shoes, ukiona vile watu wanaiba pesa… alafu tupatie kijana, mimi afadhali nikae na huyo mzee achunge hiyo pesa itumike vile inatakikana. ama mnasema aje jameni?” posed President Kenyatta. (You see how (they) are stealing money, then we give the job to a young person… I would rather stick with the old man who will guard the money and ensure it is used in the right way.)

Pesa ni yenu ya afya, ya culture, ya arts… sasa mnataka twende na tumeona vile watu wakipewa kazi kama hiyo vile wanaenda kufanya fanya, si afahali tupatie huyo mzee hiyo pesa ndio iwarudie? ahh, watu waniwache bana sitaki mambo mingi.” (You have seen how people act when they get such jobs, I would rather give the old man the job and the money still gets to you. Ahh, people should leave me alone!)

The President said he wants young people who are making money the right way.

“Success in business and being a successful entrepreneur is not how fast you make money, don’t be fast to make money because that results in your taking shortcuts which tomorrow you will regret in life,” said Mr. Kenyatta.

“It is being dedicated in what you do, providing good service at the right price and moving away from this culture that we have in Kenya of tender-prenuers to entrepreneurs. People who earn because of the sweat of their brow and we want to support you in that.”

The Sports, Art and Social Development Fund which is made up of five Principal Secretaries from the Ministries of Education, Arts, Health, National Treasury and Sports will be working alongside Athletics Kenya boss Lieutenant General (RTD) Jackson Tuwei and Mr. Awori.

Their key roles will be managing the fund, preparing and submitting quarterly reports to the Finance CS.

Some of the functions of the board include; developing infrastructure and facilitating Team Kenya for their national assignment.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta sports Art and Social Development Fund Moody Awori

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