President Uhuru Kenyatta caused a stir on Tuesday as he launched the Huduma Namba registration in Masii, Machakos County.
The head of state officially launched the registration in the county but left those attending the exercise in stitches over his comment on those opposing the government’s project.
“Tusikubali kupoteshwa na wachache mimi nilishangaa juzi; hasa nikiwa mkristo na nawaheshimu...nilisikia makasisi wengine wakisema hii ni namba ya masheitani... jameni sheitani na kujitambulisha inaingiana wapi? (let us not accept to be misled... I was shocked recently to hear some religious leaders linking Huduma Namba to Satan...surely how is Satan connected to identification) Please let us no use the privileged position we have been given and the respect we have been given to dispel lies,” the head of state said.
The President’s pronunciation of the swahili word ‘shetani’ was a corrupted one that is associated with the rural Kikuyu - sheitani.
This mother tongue influence on the President left the crowd in stitches.
While launching the programme, the President said it will help get rid of ghost workers.
He gave an example of a similar exercise carried out in the National Police Service where ghost workers were smoked out.