President Uhuru Fires Tourism PS Fatuma Hirsi

President Uhuru Kenyatta has sacked Tourism Principal Secretary Fatuma Hirsi.

A letter sent by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua informed her that June 30 would be her last day on the job.

"Your employment contract has been terminated forthwith.

"You will be paid your salary up to June 30, which will be your last working day," it read in part.

Hirsi was asked to hand over to the Wildlife Principal Secretary.

[caption caption="Fatuma Hirsi"][/caption]

In addition, Kinyua thanked Hirsi for her service and wished her well in the letter copied to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala.

Hirsi was appointed to the position in November 2015 during President Kenyatta's first term.

In January, leaders from Wajir County which Hirsi hails from asked the President to retain Hirsi after he promised to fill the position, among others, at a later date when naming his cabinet for his second term.

During her stint in office, Hirsi was honoured by 2 international bodies, the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) and the Institute of South Asian Women (ISAW) for reforms credited with growing the country's tourists’ numbers and higher revenues.

“Ms Hirsi is the Woman Achiever-Tourism Promotion. She has steered the ministry and the tourism sector to become the second highest foreign exchange earner in the country with a growth rate of about 17 per cent in both arrivals and revenue receipts,” noted ISAW when awarding her in March.

[caption caption="Fatuma Hirsi"][/caption]