ICT CAS Narrates How Cyber Bullies Forced Her Out of Social Media

Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Chief Administrative Secretary Nadia Ahmed.
Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Chief Administrative Secretary Nadia Ahmed.
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KNA

The Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Chief Administrative Secretary(CAS), Nadia Ahmed, has revealed that she had to take a break from social media due to cyberbullying.

During an interview with Lizz Ntonjira on Sunday, September 26, the CAS revealed that she has experienced numerous counts of bullying all through her life.

"I have experienced bullying as a young girl growing up and working in the government," she stated.

Undated file image of an individual with a hidden face working on a computer.
Undated file image of an individual with a hidden face working on a computer.
Kenyans.co.ke

"I actually took a two-month break from Instagram during the conflict between Israel and Palestine. People went and dug photos that I had taken with the ambassador and started calling me incompetent,” she added.

In the interview, she also revealed that she had to seek professional help to overcome the mental health challenges she was experiencing.

“First, I took myself for therapy. I have a therapist who is my friend and I had to explain what I was going through. He advised me to go back to social media and the mainstream media to talk about the issues of mental health,” she stated.

The CAS also stated that she experiences a lot of pressure at work, noting that it is not easy to work in an environment where people doubt her capabilities.

“There is so much expectation for me. The pressure is intentional because people expect me to fail. Older people look at me and wonder if this young person can actually do it,” the CAS stated.

She went further to reveal how ICT Cabinet Secretary, Joe Mucheru, has been instrumental in building her confidence in the Ministry.

“I can tell you that the person who actually built my confidence is the Cabinet Secretary. He is my mentor,” she stated.

“Whenever I am in the room and I feel that people are doubting me, he will tell people that this is my assistant secretary. He will also let me speak before him.”

She concluded that she was working with the Ministry to ensure that the Cyberbullying Act sponsored by the ministry is passed in Parliament.

Nadia was appointed as the CAS in the Ministry of ICT by President Uhuru Kenyatta on January 14, 2020.

File image of ICT CS Joe Mucheru
File image of ICT CS Joe Mucheru
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