ODM Writes to UN Seeking to Have the Appointment of President Uhuru as the Global Champion for Youth Revoked

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has written to the United Nations seeking to have the recent appointment of President Uhuru Kenyatta as UNICEF's global champion for youth empowerment revoked.

In a letter to the global body, ODM Executive director Oduor Ong'wen asked Unicef to "revoke the decision and apologise to Kenyans".

"We urge your office to keenly review and rescind this appointment and offer an apology to the many families in Kenya."

"...families whose children were physically and sexually assaulted and the millions of young unemployed Kenyans chocking under the heavy weight of official government corruption and plunder," Ong'wen said.

Last week, Uhuru accepted UNICEF's new role, which entails pushing for universal healthcare, education and nutrition.

The Raila Odinga-led party says the appointment was in bad faith.

"We reject this appointment that is a travesty of an organisation that prides itself as the champion of children rights across 190 countries and territories," Ong'wen has said.

Ong'wen argued that by appointing President Uhuru to the position, UNICEF legitimized the sexual assault on women, physical violence on children and killing of children witnessed in the aftermath of last year's elections.

"UNICEF has legitimised government corruption and wanton looting of the public fund on programmes conjured up as youth empowerment projects," Ong'wen said.

"We are shocked at this offer and wish to register our indignation to you."

Speaking when she paid a courtesy call on President Kenyatta at state house in Nairobi last week, UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore assured Kenya of support in achieving universal healthcare.