Former Vice President Moody Awori, popularly known as Uncle Moody, has been appointed as a board member for the Sports, Art and Social Development Fund.
Kenyans are angry after Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich appointed former Vice President Moody Awori to manage the Sports, Art and Social Development Fund formerly the National Sports Fund.
Recycling old guards in a youth-oriented job is an insult to our desperate unemployed youths. Mr president here you differ with the youth. Some ex-sportsmen are languishing in absolute poverty. @UKenyatta https://t.co/zs3ImPAltJ
— Kevin Oduor (@kevine_oduor) December 5, 2018
A seven-member oversight board was gazetted and tasked to work alongside Athletics Kenya boss Lieutenant General (RTD) Jackson Tuwei and former vice president Moody Awori.
The seven-member Board was gazetted by the Finance CS Henry Rotich. Moody will work alongside five Principal Secretaries from the Ministries of Education, Arts, Health, National Treasury and Sports. The team will also be joined by Athletics Kenya boss Lieutenant General (RTD) Jackson Tuwei.
President UHURU KENYATTA gives 91 yrs old mzee Moody Awori job yet am just 30+ years and am jobless so it seems am still young to get employed or will i get employed when i reach 70 years? What a great Kenya.
— GEORGE GATHECHA (@GEORGEGATHECHA4) December 5, 2018
They will be required to manage funds set aside for Sports, Arts and Social development then prepare and submit quarterly reports to the Finance CS.
The board will also monitor and evaluate the activities and programmes under the fund. Moody’s appointment has elicited mixed reactions among netizens with many feeling that he was too old for the job.
President uhuru Kenyatta during campaign. I will create 1million job for the youths every year. Two years later.
Moody Awori – 91 year old
Francis Muthaura – 75
Chris Obure – 75
Matu Wamae – 79
Beth Mugo – 79
Musikari Kombo – 74
David Musila – 75
Marsden Madoka – 75— Perato N_Senior (@PeratoN_Senior) December 5, 2018
“At that age what these guys require is a lot of sleep,” one tweep posted.
Dont be surprised its the old man who begged Uhuru for a job.
— Shazmin (@shazmin2002) December 6, 2018
Others were irked by the fact that the government appointed the 91-year-old while there were millions of young Kenyans who are jobless.
Moody, however, in an interview two years ago, revealed that despite his old age, he has astrict workout routine that involves 30 press ups daily to maintain his youthfulness.
https://twitter.com/xelar6/status/1070393480361492480
Kenyans on Twitter called on Uncle Moody to turn down the offer, arguing that it would taint his image having left office and politics more than a decade ago. Others wondered why the government did not pick former athletes or even current ones who know the struggle of being out on the track to sit in the board.
Is he the old man understand was given a job by Uhuru
— mc kholil (@mc_kholil) December 6, 2018
KOT urged the former VP to continue enjoying his pension and leave the job for young people who are desperately looking for jobs. 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.
I think President Uhuru must seriously think about this. It's not just some online thing done by youth, it's seriously embarrassing to give jobs to these Grandpas when youthful members of the society are out there ready to serve.
— Abu-Muhammad🇰🇪 (@AbdiwahidI) December 6, 2018
However, his appointment was not well received as Kenyans took to their keyboards protesting why he was given the job at 91 years old.
Young Kenyans mocked the government for pledging to create jobs stating that their campaign pledges were just a word of mouth.