When the former Heritage and Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa was sacked on Friday as President’s Uhuru Kenyatta reshuffled his cabinet, many were not surprised.
On the contrary, the sacking of former Tourism Principal Secretary Fatuma Hirsi raises eyebrows.
During her stint in office, Ms Hirsi was honoured by 2 international bodies, the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) and the Institute of South Asian Women (ISAW) for reforms credited with growing the country’s tourists’ numbers and higher revenues.
“Ms Hirsi is the Woman Achiever-Tourism Promotion. She has steered the ministry and the tourism sector to become the second highest foreign exchange earner in the country with a growth rate of about 17 per cent in both arrivals and revenue receipts,” noted ISAW when awarding her in March.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent packing Tourism Principal Secretary Fatuma Hirsi amid calls by Wajir leaders to retain her.
In January, leaders from Wajir County which Hirsi hails from had asked the President to retain Hirsi after he promised to fill the position, among others, at a later date when naming his cabinet for his second term.
A letter sent by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua informed her that June 30 would be her last day on the job.
“Your employment contract has been terminated forthwith.
“You will be paid your salary up to June 30, which will be your last working day,” it read in part.
Hirsi was asked to hand over to the Wildlife Principal Secretary.
In addition, Kinyua thanked Hirsi for her service and wished her well in the letter copied to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala.
Hirsi was appointed to the position in November 2015 during President Kenyatta’s first term.