This archive report was first published on 21 October 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's recent appointments and re-appointments of individuals above the proposed retirement age have sparked a debate among Kenyans. The Head of State has overlooked Sir Charles Njonjo, a 99-year-old former Attorney General, according to online discussions.
On October 14, 2019, a special Gazette Notice announced the appointment of several individuals, including former Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso's widower Edwin Abonyo, to state positions. This has led to calls for the President to consider appointing Mzee Njonjo to a state position.
Some Kenyans on Twitter have expressed their support for the idea, citing Njonjo's rich CV and age as reasons why he would be a suitable candidate for a state appointment. For instance, Dan Maptec (@dandenish) tweeted, 'Ask him to consider the youthful Sir Charles Njonjo. He is only 99y/o with very rich cv.'
Others have even suggested specific positions for Njonjo, such as the head of disaster management or the CEO of Safaricom. However, it remains to be seen whether the President will take heed of these calls and appoint Njonjo to a state position.
