Lupita rubbishes CS Balala’s claim the he has been looking for her for 5 years

BY BMJ MURIITHI

Renowned Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong’o is not amused by a statement by Kenya’s Tourism Minister Najib Balala the the ministry has been trying to reach her for 5 years ostensibly to offer her the role of marketing Kenya internationally but without success.

Taking to Twitter on Friday and putting on a sarcastic face, Lupita wrote:

“Me when I hear the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism has been looking for me for fives years. #Imrightherebaby #alternativefacts”

Me when I hear the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism has been looking for me for fives years. #Imrightherebaby #alternativefacts pic.twitter.com/jHmEVMSaI9

— Lupita Nyong’o (@Lupita_Nyongo) January 22, 2021

Recently, speaking on why the ministry could not offer the job of marketing Kenya overseas to the multiple award-winning Kenyan Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong’o , Balala said his ministry had unsuccessfully tried to get in touch with Ms Nyong’o for five years now.

Commitment to Kenya

“I know everybody is asking why not Lupita. Lupita has commitments and her managers cannot allow us to access her. We’ve spent the last five years looking for Lupita,” Mr Balala said.

British supermodel Naomi Campbell was appointed the Magical Kenya International Tourism Ambassador by the CS on January 12.

Naomi’s appointment stirred debate with critics saying a Kenyan should have gotten the job.

Balala also faulted  those who have castigated the ministry for failing to appoint a Kenyan in the position, saying the ministry makes the appointments while targeting specific markets.

“We can have one of our own, and we already have Eliud Kipchoge. We are targeting specific markets and sectors, so we will identify brand ambassadors because of that. We use Kipchoge to market Kenya because of his vast international networks,” he said.

The CS heaped praises on Ms Campbell saying:

“We have a framework to work around her and she accepted to do it for free. She offered herself because of her love and commitment to Kenya. We are now working on the details on how do we use her to promote the destination.”