Kenyans Online Fume as Uhuru's Nominee Says She's Worth Sh400 Million

President Kenyatta’s National Lands Commission (NLC) nominee infuriated Kenyans online after she revealed her massive wealth during vetting by MPs.

Esther Murugi, who was nominated to the position of NLC Commissioner, divulged to a Parliament Committee that she is worth about Sh400 million.

Murugi, a former Member of Parliament and Minister for Special Programs during retired President Kibaki’s administration, said she is fit for the position owing to her decade-long experience in real estate.

“I am worth close to KSh400M. I am a UoN graduate. I have over 10 years’ experience in real estate; currently a director of a real estate company. I have been a member of this committee when I was MP. I served the people of Nyeri for two terms,” said Murugi.

Kenyans expressed their anger on social media, questioning why Ms. Murugi was still fighting to serve in government despite being filthy rich. 

They could not understand why such individuals are handed lucrative government appointments at the expense of unemployed, young and productive graduates.  

“A millionaire looking for a job but a broke graduate should be an entrepreneur,” posed @sammykg.

@NotionDaily tweeted: “Trying to understand. These people tell fresh graduates who have no experience or capital to not rely on employment and forge their own paths. Then the people worth hundreds of millions and experience get the jobs. Mental gymnastics should be an Olympic sport because phew.” 

@muchindo1 posed: “Cucu, with 400M worth, surely you shouldn’t you be thinking of creating job opportunities for your children and grandchildren, not chasing after a government job?” 

@bulima_lydia said: “She at least has had time to serve the country, she shouldn’t be given the chance again.” 

@Kimotho wrote: “Why do you need this job instead of retiring peacefully? I doubt you have extra ordinary knowledge and skills to make you get employed at this age. The greatest undoing in our political class is recycling, recycling, recycling, recycling.”