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Storm over British envoy’s meeting with influencers to discuss food crisis


On Wednesday, British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott, met with several Kenyan influencers to discuss food security issues in the country. Among the influencers invited to the meeting were comedian Njugush, musicians Savara Mudigi of Sauti Sol and King Kaka, TikToker Azziad Nasenya among others.

Later, several of these influencers, via social media, revealed that the topic of conversation at the meeting had been how influencers could use their platforms to advocate for food security and solutions to this issue. According to Njugush’s update, they had great conversations on how they can “use our platforms to influence behaviours that leads to us being food secure.”

Recently, the Ministry of Youth Affairs , Sports and the Arts’ Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba dished out government jobs to influencers, musicians, comedians and others to form his Talanta Hela Technical Committee to the chagrin of Kenyans.

Some of those appointees were in the meeting with Ambassador Jane Marriot as well and this added fuel to the fire of a section of Kenyans lamenting how popular entertainers were being given jobs at the expense of the jobless, learned Kenyans who had been seeking employment for years.

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Among those who felt aggrieved by Ambassador Marriot’s meeting with the influencers was a Kenyan on Twitter by the name Juma G, who wondered how influencers could discuss food crisis in Kenya.

“A whole High Commissioner, representing a whole Government of the United Kingdom into Kenya, meets with Kenyan musicians, comedians and those who shake their behinds on TikTok to discuss food crisis in Kenya! Very strange times in Kenya right now!” said Juma G.

These sentiments drew varied reactions as sampled by Nairobi News below:

“Creatives are very influential in terms of drumming support for important ideas. They can even be more influential than politicians. The new ministry in charge of arts/youth must exploit this potential. Often you understand the soul of a nation/people through these visionaries,” said former Makueni governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana.

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“We need to shout until they hear our voices, we won’t be part of this nonsense and mediocrity @UKinKenya! What do comedians know about fighting hunger or climate change or food security?” asked Mutichilo Mike.

“I hope in the same spirit she will be meeting with rice farmers from Kirinyaga and miraa farmers from Meru to discuss about the entertainment industry and showbiz situation in Kenya,” said Mwendi 254.

“Maybe the topic was ‘food’ and not the conventional food you and I are used to. Stranger moral things have been happening in the past few weeks you never know which food was on the table,” said one Ekhaoya.

“It shows you one thing. Shaking behind and doing all that stuff isn’t something bad. As long as they have the man power and skill to push an agenda that is enough. As you have seen those are online influencers. Do something crazy ukuwe (to become an) influencer you will get your seat,” said Denis Kipkorir.

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“And we have graduate from Kenya and Israel on matters agriculture who are unemployed,” said Steve Muuo.

“Please check Unesco SDG’s that are supposed to be championed by arts and culture. One of them is say no to hunger, creatives are very useful in creating awareness that can welcome more funding to our suffering brothers n sisters,” commented Eddah Rimah.

Currently, Kenya is experiencing prolonged drought with rains in Kenya’s ‘bread basket’ regions being absent for months.

President William Ruto recently announced that tonnes of cereals imported from abroad to curb starvation in 31 counties will soon dock in Mombasa; and called on cartels hoarding cereals to sell theirs quickly before the imported food arrives.

Currently, more than 6 million Kenyans continue to face starvation in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions.

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