"Finally, the day is here and I‘m grateful to the Almighty for the time and opportunity at the NYS," these were the words of outgoing NYS director general Matilda Sakwa as she exited office.
Sakwa handed over the office to her deputy James Tembur during a brief ceremony at the National Youth Service headquarters in Nairobi on Wednesday.
Tembur who has been working with Sakwa since her appointment to the position is not new to the role. He had briefly occupied the office in 2018.
Tembur was in May 2018 appointed the acting officer in charge of the NYS pending administrative reorganisation. He was then still the agency's Deputy Director General.
He was appointed to the position by the then Public Service CS Margaret Kobia.
"To ensure continued and smooth running of the day-to-day affairs of the service, Tembur is required to exercise his new role with immediate effect and keep the Cabinet Secretary updated on a weekly basis," a notice stated.
"The Cabinet Secretary accords him all support and facilitation necessary for the effective execution of his duties," Kobia stated then.
Tembur served the position in an acting capacity until retired President Uhuru Kenyatta named Sakwa the NYS acting director general. Uhuru confirmed her appointment as the director general on September 17, 2019.
Sakwa was appointed to the position at a time the service was facing lots of challenges with claims of heightened corruption. The president entrusted her with the position, she was expected to transform the service and ensure it was ridded of corruption.
The agency had before Sakwa’s appointment been on the spot over the years of allegations of the theft of billions of money.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I thank the Almighty God for affording me the wisdom and grit to run this great institution for four years. But, I cannot thank Him enough for shielding me from disdain and ridicule at this time of exit,” Sakwa said on Wednesday.
She said the only truth we all have to face whether we want to or not is that everything that has a beginning, eventually ends.
“Today is one of those days for us to experience this reality. As I leave, I choose to draw my inspiration from the fact that the only constant in life is change. Indeed, the proclamation in the Book of Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything and season for every activity under the heavens rings true,” she said.
“There was a time to join the service and by God’s Grace, it’s now time to leave,” Sakwa said.
Tembur said Sakwa had taught them to do the right thing.
“Madam Matilda Sakwa, you have taught us to do the right thing and we promise to follow in your footsteps because this is the only befitting gift we can give you as our Commander,” Tembur said.
Deputy director general Jamlick Chabari said they were proud of Sakwa.
“We are proud of you Madam Matilda Sakwa, the milestones you have accomplished at NYS speak for themselves,” Chabari said.
NYS Council chairperson Lt. Gen (rtd) Njuki Mwaniki said, “Those who move to the top, stay in high – Speed Avenue. Matilda Sakwa you are indeed going far.”
-Edited by SKanyara