91-Year-Old Awori Appointed to Covid-19 Committee

Former Vice-President Moody Awori delivers a speech during an event in Havana, Cuba on September 16, 2006
Former Vice-President Moody Awori delivers a speech during an event in Havana, Cuba on September 16, 2006
File

Former Vice President Moody Awori has landed another government job after being appointed to help in resource mobilisation.

The Lake Region Economic Bloc Chair Wycliffe Oparanya appointed the 91-year-old veteran politician to the Inter County Advisory and Resource Mobilization Committee which will be launched on Thursday, August 20.  

The committee will be tasked with resource mobilisation and advising the econmic bloc on ways of dealing with the impact of Covid-19

Former Vice-President Moody Awori arrives for mass at the Holy Family Basilica, Nairobi in 2018
Former Vice-President Moody Awori arrives for mass at the Holy Family Basilica, Nairobi in 2018
File

Lake Region Economic Bloc is made up of  Kakamega, Kisumu, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Busia, Bomet, Siaya, Nyamira, Migori, Kisii and Vihiga counties.

Moody's trustworthyness ratings appear to be very high since he is also the chair of the billion-shilling Sport, Arts and Social Development Fund, which mobilises resources to support the growth and development of the sports industry in the country.

After his appointment in 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta defended his decision, claiming that the fund needed a person of integrity.

"Look at the way people are plundering government resources and then we say that we appoint a young person? I would rather stay with the old man to make sure the money is utilised in the right manner,” Uhuru explained after uproar from Kenyans. 

Former Auditor General Edward Ouko was also appointed to the LREB Covid-19 Advisory and Resource Mobilization Committee together with musician Akothee

The pandemic has also come with more rresponsibilities for marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge who also joined the board.

Weeks before, he was named a destination ambassador by the Kenya Tourism Board.

The LREB Covid-19 Advisory and Resource Mobilization Committee is chaired by Professor Khama Rogo who is the lead health specialist at World Bank and head of World Bank Group's Health in Africa Initiative.

He is a Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology and a prominent advocate and global authority on reproductive health issues.

According to data from the World Bank in 2019, Kenya has the highest number of jobless youth in East Africa at a staggering 18.3%. This is in stark contrast to its counterparts Uganda at 2.7% and Tanzania 3.4%. 

The unemployment net drags on despite President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2017 promises that the Jubilee Party would create 1.5 million jobs annually if reelected.

Watch a special report on unemployment below:

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