The appointment of 29 year-old, Nadia Ahmed Abdallah as the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) has generated excitement among the youth in Coast region and the country at large.
The appointment of Nadia as CAS of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs comes against the backdrop of agitation by the youth in the country for inclusivity in senior government positions and the Public Service.
The Youth who are the majority by population have been constantly and openly complaining that they have been sidelined in the appointments of senior positions saying they were a reserve of old influential individuals.
The appointment of Nadia who holds MA degree in Arts, International Relations and Cultural Diplomacy serves to assuage the coastal people, youth and women who, for long, cried for inclusivity in the Public Service.
“My appointment will inspire and motivate other young people in the country, said Nadia during an exclusive interview with Kenya News Agency in Mombasa over the weekend at her family home in Nyali.
A visibly delighted Nadia who was a volunteer trainer in public speaking said President Uhuru Kenyatta through her appointment has shown faith in the youth and that she will go out of her way to deliver for the country and particularly the young people whom she carries their aspiration.
“I am humbled and very grateful to our President for this important appointment which I intend to give my best and serve the country diligently,” added the new CAS who was sworn into office on Friday at state House in Mombasa.
She said she is alive to the fact that all eyes will be on her on how she goes about her responsibilities in the government vowing that she will prove that given the chance young people can contribute positively to the development of the country.
Nadia who is single said she received the news of her appointment with disbelief and excitement.
She noted that her appointment demystify the claims that the national government often gives the coastal people a raw deal in senior positions in the public service.
She said, “I didn’t lobby or seek any help for this position but I got it by the grace of God, self-belief, resilience and hard work.”
Speaking on Saturday with KNA in the presence of her mother, Salma Mbarak Ali, the CAS promised to use her position to encourage young people to believe in themselves and strive for higher things in life.
While announcing a cabinet reshuffle and new appointments during his address to the Nation on January 14, President Kenyatta said seven of the appointments to the positions of CAS are young people and some below the age of 30 years.
“These Chief Administrative Secretaries will work with, and understudy their more experienced colleagues in Government with the aim of readying themselves to assume senior leadership positions in the near future,” said President Kenyatta.
The Head of State further said he expected the young trainee ministers will model to their fellow young people the high ideals of patriotism, excellence in public service and most of all, integrity.
Several leaders in Mombasa, including the Mombasa Senator, Mohamed Faki and the Organizing Secretary of Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), Shekih Khalifa Mohamed welcomed the appointment of Nadia.
Nadia is the founder of Fierce Lady Official, a communication network that comprises of PR & Networking platform, Digital TV series and a community programme that works with different Public Relations Strategies to build ideas, enhance brand identity and advocate on social issues.
She was born at the heart of the Old Town in Kuze area and attended Nyali Primary School and Oshwal Academy in Mombasa for her primary and secondary education respectively.
Nadia was admitted at Tylors University Lakeside Campus in Malaysia for her Bachelor of Arts, Major in Public Relations. She later joined Hochschule Furtwangen University, Berlin in German for her MA Arts, International Relations and Cultural Diplomacy.
By Mohamed Hassan
