This archive report was first published on 7 August 2020.
Pauline Njoroge's Appointment to Tourism Board Sparks Outrage ¶
On August 7, 2020, Tourism CS Najib Balala appointed new members to the Board of Tourism Regulatory Authority, including digital strategist and vocal political commentator Pauline Njoroge.
However, her appointment has caused a stir online due to her past sentiments about Nairobi National Park, which she advocated for development.
Her past Facebook post read, 'How much revenue does Nairobi National Park bring to this country? Isn't there much much more that can be done with it that will add more value?'
Many conservationists have raised alarm that she was given the role to regulate the tourism industry while holding such views about Nairobi National Park.
The park, which is the only national park in the world within a capital city, has been under threat for many years and some Kenyans have seen her appointment as a step back.
Politician Alinur Mohamed posed the question, 'The way appointments are done in this country is just interesting! After what Pauline Njoroge had earlier posted about Nairobi National Park, does she deserve to be in that Tourism Board really?'
Hours after her appointment, Nairobi National Park was trending on Twitter with over 100,000 impressions.
The park is home to more than 550 species of birds and attracts approximately 150,000 visitors a year, with activists terming it the 'lungs of the city', bringing in fresh air to an increasingly crowded capital.
