Kenyans on Twitter launch #OperationOkoaMonicaJuma, dismiss MPs

By  SAMUEL KARANJA

What you need to know:

  • The Twitter users accused members of the National Assembly's Committee on Security and National Administration of being dishonest and upholding mediocrity in place of competence in their rejection of the nominee.
  • The MPs on Tuesday also took issue with a letter the Interior principal secretary had written to the House clerk complaining about the lawmakers’ frequent visits to her office.
  • Others posted the said letter on their Twitter pages describing it as very “honest” and said voters should teach the MPs who recommended the rejection of Ms Juma a lesson by voting them out in the next general election.

Kenyans on social media on Thursday launched a campaign to demand that the National Assembly approve Monica Juma as secretary to the Cabinet.

They also attacked a parliamentary committee, led by Tiaty MP Asman Kamama, that recommended that the House reject her nomination for “displaying arrogance” to Parliament.

The Twitter users accused members of the National Assembly's Committee on Security and National Administration of being dishonest and upholding mediocrity in place of competence in their rejection of the nominee.

Also Read

Under the hashtag #OpertaionOkoaMonicaJuma, Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) rallied behind Dr Juma, who was rejected by the MPs vetting her for the post.

“#MonicaJuma, a towering intellectual, was looking forward to an intellectual engagement jana (yesterday). She got pettiness. #OperationOkoaMonicaJuma,” twitted ‏@simonwachira .

“It doesn’t matter whether Monica Juma is from tribe ‘X’ or ‘Z’, the lady is qualified, give her the job, avoid sideshows #OperationOkoaMonicaJuma,” said Ike Kenneth, who tweets as ‏@IkeOjuok.

ARROGANCE OR COMPETENCE?

“When MPs confuse competence with arrogance, then you know Kenya is done #OperationOkoaMonicaJuma, there has to be order,” he added.

The MPs on Tuesday also took issue with a letter the Interior principal secretary had written to the House clerk complaining about lawmakers’ frequent visits to her office.

Ms Juma was nominated by President Kenyatta to replace Mr Francis Kimemia, who was sacked over corruption allegations.

In her letter, Ms Juma had complained about frequent visits by the lawmakers to her office to demand transfers, employment or requests for State workers to serve in certain stations.

“Dr Monica Juma was right in her letter to the clerk, #OperationOkoaMonicaJuma,” said ‏@MachelWaikenda.

“Do our MPs favour a candidate that allows them to the office without any order?” wondered Mr Edwin Gichohi.

Others posted the said letter on their Twitter pages describing it as very “honest” and said voters should teach the MPs who recommended the rejection of Ms Juma a lesson by voting them out in the next general election.

However, Dr Juma’s fate lies with the entire House, which is likely to clear her.

In the headlines