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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.”
Comments
Her voice sounds a 30yr old going 65; even 70.
Disgusted (Dsgstd) - your comment about the voice of Ms Ngina is plainly malicious and full of disgust! The problem with some people is that they are so jealous of others to a point you can’t see anything good about this beautifully young lady. Do you have to be so negative to a point of making a comment that you know is a total lie? Her voice is very nice and the topic she is discussing is very important to all Kenyans, to include the sadists like you! Stop being a damn hater!!
Most Kenyans are brought because they expect Uhuru to dish out free cash instead of finding something product to do to earn a living! Does your governor know that you broke? Go ask him what he did with all the budge allocation from the treasury. Maybe he can dish you some of the money he has stolen to feed you. Better yet your local Chief might be willing to give some Matharu, waru, karati, nyanya and some free mathache to find your empty big belly. You can also get your ass out of bed and visit a local Quarry to shape up some building stones instead of waiting to for Uhuru to figure out why you are broke. Anyone with an average brain should not be broke in Kenya in the midst of myriads of things you can do to make money - have you ever considered being a TOUT? They proudly make money managing Maratha through out Kenya! You can do the same you lazy boom!
She is right and I do not see any reason for anyone to reprimand her. People should not wait for food to be put on table for them. If one wants to eat, go out there and look for food. Even wild animals do the same.
You missed the point obviously. Yes if "conditions " are right , of course, are they now in Kenya?
When was the last time she was out in jua kali or other informal settlements where youth innovate everyday on just how to survive. Being articulate means nada to the average youth or to me for that matter. Actions speaks louder than words. Maybe she should "abdicate" that Director position for starters to an average youth - that salary could go a long way to an average Kenyan!
Weka make up and surely you can afford a hair dresser the bush on your head could launch an upcoming hair dresser’s career set an example by employing a jobless hairdresser or jobless make up artist
Can Ngina give the same speech in Swahili for those of us who have trouble understanding English?
Why are people trying to profile Kenyatta's for giving her opinion on how to combat a problem that exists within the society where she lives? It's not like she lives in Britain while trying to suggest a solution to you who live in Kenya. I believe it's not her wish to see jobless youths on the streets and that's why she's trying to provide what in her opinion is a solution. You don't her to agree with her but allow her to express herself too. She certainly didn't apply to be born where she found herself, neither does she owe you apologies for being husslers. Sawa?
You totally missed the point. Read the comments again. She has not experienced and has no clue the miserable life an average Kenyan lives courtesy of the poor leadership by her father. She is a silver spoon in the mouth princess with nothing to offer.
rubbish from a silver spoon socialite.
Ngina give us an example of what you personally have innovated from the scratch.
Interesting comments on here
Funny, people are critiquing her about the dad and grandfather. We chose to elect the Uhurus and now we are getting shafted we are going after the extended family. We are to blame on this one.
citing turkana guy studying in china is admitting failure in the first place, they have ruined education system in our country which is one sure way to get the youth to be even more innovative
Oh that's what that was? aka Turkana, her tweng was too sophisticated for me lol... you are so right about that , that puts all that speech/words etc flawed !
Nimeikagua hotuba ya huyu mwana dada na sijaona kosa lolote. Kingereza ana kifahamu. Kwani hakuna uhuru wa kujielezea maoni ya mtu binafsi?
I do not see what this young lady is being attacked for here. What wrong did she do. She articulated the needs of Kenyan youth and she has ideas. Stop ad hominem thinking. Critic her ideas, not the fact that she was raised in privilege.
Those are NOT new ideas, been around quite a while, has been articulated by many spaces, by many ordinary people but her Privilege makes this news. If she has "ideas" then go and implement them and not in China but here in Kenya. Kenyans are all tired of speeches.
I'm thinking Turkana student will have to get a job in diaspora or compete to sell mitumba with other University graduates
I don't critique her accent or access to a job at the family foundation. That is a function of her parentage. Providing access to education is a laudable thing. Equal access to opportunity is the flaw since Kenya is not built that way. The single best way to financial independence is create your own successful business venture. The barriers are impressive though- corruption and bribery and their pervasive nature throughout means licensing any business is a nightmare, and if you have access to capital(not easy) you still have to watch out for monied vultures with the ability to influence officials in the judiciary and in the rest of government to do their bidding should they take a shine to your venture. The Kenyatta family is immune to this due to their apex position financially and politically. She fails to acknowledge the existence of these barriers or the roll her father can play in eliminating them.
Mundumugo,
You nailed it! That’s the reality in our beautiful country!
if you understand what ails kenya so much you might want to lecture Uhuru as he does not understand why kenyans are broke.