Why I strongly defend Uhuru 'old-age' appointees

The recent appointment of former Othaya MP Mary Wambui to chair the National Employment Authority has raised negative reactions among the youth.

The Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani gave Wambui the job.

Young people, through social media, are saying that President Uhuru Kenyatta has a big love for the old-age professionals, and he forgets the youth.

This is because he has appointed several retirees to head state agencies in this year and last year.

Other than Mary Wambui, Uhuru has appointed Moody Awori to chair the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund, Francis Muthaura as the head of Kenya Revenue Authority, and Sarah Murugi to sit in the National Land Commission. Other members of Kenyatta's old guard include Jeremiah Matagaro, Julius Karangi, Cyrus Gituai, and Stephen Karogo. All these appointees are well above the retirement age of 60.

MY OPINION

I am a youth below 30 years, and I think Uhuru is not making a mistake by appointing the older adults into the government. Why? Because these people bring in a great deal of experience to state agencies. Furthermore, they have more training, more education, and more life experience than youth.

Over the years, I have come to understand that one degree or one diploma is not enough for you to govern. As a youth, you need more education and experience to govern a state agency. I think it is time for the young people to understand why they hear job requirement stating 5+ work experience. It is because companies or the government don't want people with just big mouths and young and naive dreams.

You see, the system was designed to take in someone when he or she is young and then mould them to become ready for big jobs in government. That means we cannot have an intern or a fresh graduate being appointed to head the KRA. It's illogical.

In my experience, if you're young, you must work under someone with experience before you even start talking. But that's not the case with the Starehe MP Charles Njagua, who is proposing the retirement age to be reduced from 60 to 50. I hate to say this, but for someone like Njagua, it will be okay to have people like Chipukeezy, Prezzo, Babu Owino, Ringtone, Kris Darlin, or Mariga in government. You know these ghetto superstars, footballers, and people from Churchill show. Do you want that? For me, I don't. I guess you don't even know some of them.

Some of these celebrities don't have actual education or training. What most of then have are talent and fame. They best fit in entertainment and not so much in politics. But when it comes to governance and public administration, we need people with education, training, and work experience. And I think the learned professionals can agree with me on this one.

All this explains why Uhuru is going for old-age professionals rather than the youth. There was a time he said, "Our youths should also learn, they keep on crying every day they have no jobs saying the old people should leave positions for them to get jobs. But when we compare areas led by youth, we see problems, but where the old are leading, there is development."

My advice to the youth, wait for your time to come. I am also waiting on the line. And if you want to rise to the top, gain some exceptional experience that exceeds what Uhuru's old-age appointees already have. That way, we can consider making you the head of KRA, NEMA, or NCA.