Mama Ngina Kenyatta wants Kenyan youth to love their country

Former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta has challenged the youth to be more patriotic and emulate the country’s past leaders.

Mama Ngina, who is also President Uhuru Kenyatta’s mother was speaking at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi after the memorial service of the late Jeremiah Kiereini, in a rare 60 seconds moment of publicity granted by the media-shy former first lady.

Asked about how she remembers Kiereini, a former powerful Head of Civil Service in her late husband’s administration, Mama Ngina said he was a role model and the youth and current crop of leaders have much to learn from him (Kiereini).

She said the youth and leaders of today ought to to be selfless and prioritise the interests of the country, for Kenya to realise much more growth and development.

“Jeremiah Kiereini and the leaders who were there before led by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta laid a good foundation for this country. If only the leaders we have today could be trustworthy like those who there before, this country would have made great progress, ” she said.

“I ask the current generation to put the interests of the country first so that you can steer this country in the right direction and inculcate good morals and patriotism to your children.”

Mama Ngina had joined dignitaries, government officials and top business leaders to celebrate the life of Kiereini who died on May 14, 2019 and was cremated in a private ceremony two days later.

The late Kiereni was known for his leadership that spanned across top companies in Kenya including CMC Holdings, Unga Limited, CFC Stanbic and most memorably as Chairman of the East Africa Breweries Limited.

His 24-year stint at EABL saw one of the company’s products tagged ‘Kiereini waters’.