I screamed when I heard President Kenyatta mention my name – VIDEO
“I was at Bima Towers attending a tourism meeting when calls started coming. At first, I ignored but when the calls became frequent, I got scared and went out to answer,” Ms Nadia Ahmed told the Nation.
As a close friend broke the news to her, other callers wondered whether she was the real Nadia Ahmed Abdhallah who had just been appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as a Chief Administrative Secretary.
“Have you heard the announcement? You are the new ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary,” her friend shouted hysterically.
In quick succession, her mother, father, relatives and co-workers also called to share the good news.
“Everyone refers to me as Nadia Naddy, that is why there was a lot of confusion. I had not watched the news because we were in a meeting. So I went online to confirm if it was true and I just screamed when I heard President Kenyatta mention my name,” she said.
EXCITED AND NERVOUS
The 28-year-old’s phone has been ringing ever since. During the interview in Mombasa, she had to put it on silent mode due to the numerous calls.
“I can’t believe it, I am excited and nervous. I feel like crying. I just need time to let it sink in. I need to pray and internalise, this is so surreal. A young girl from Mombasa is now the CAS?” she posed as if in total disbelief.
The Public Relations and Communication expert has always been fighting stereotypes against Muslim women.
Before the appointment, she was working at the county government of Mombasa as the chief tourism officer.