Dr. Gumato Yatani, Wife to Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani on Friday, November 15, 2019, sparked controversy after netizens realised she was appointed to two government positions.
This came after news broke that the cabinet secretary’s wife had been appointed Chairperson of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology Council.
Dr Gumato will also be part of a task force formed by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Cooperatives which will review the quality and standards of infrastructure.
The information elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans online who did not understand how that was possible in the wake of unemployment which plagues the country.
Some congratulated her while others took the move as a mockery to the youth searching for jobs within the country.
Mohamud Shekh - Dr Gumato Ukur is highly qualified in her own right. Her PhD aside, she holds an MBA in Human Resource Management & BSc in Education from the Uni of Nairobi. She’s worked in prominent roles including as Undersecretary in the Office of the President.
Donald Kipkorir - No one is doubting her credentials... But she doesn’t have to be in Boards, two Boards... She can go to the private sector or go teach in the University... It is morally & ethically wrong.
Ben Keraro - In serious democracies, practice is that your spouse/children/siblings cannot hold certain positions in government especially those where one could easily influence the appointment behind the scenes without needing vetting and approval from legally mandated agencyies.
Yuda Olango - If she qualifies then she should not be punished for the success of her husband.
Ogoto Wekesimba - The issue is about the equitable sharing of public resources among all Kenyans. A family cannot hold that number of public jobs while other equally qualified Kenyans are jobless.
Her husband Ukur Yatani holds the office of the Cabinet Secretary for finance in an acting capacity and also the current CS for labour.
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