This is the First Time I’ve Been Jobless Since 1985- Lands CS Nominee Alice Wahome
Alice Wahome, the nominee for the Cabinet Secretary role in Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, is experiencing unemployment for the first time in nearly four decades.
She disclosed this information during her vetting session before the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments on Thursday.
While unemployment has long been a challenge for many Kenyans, Ms. Wahome, aged 65, seems to have been largely spared from this issue throughout her career.
After being assured by Committee Chair and Speaker Moses Wetangula that all her documents were in order, a cheerful Ms. Wahome remarked, “It’s a relief, Mr. Speaker. I am jobless and need the job. Since 1985, this is the first time I have been without employment, and I appreciate the chance to appear before the committee.”
As noted on the Parliament website, Ms. Wahome, a former Kandara MP, earned her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Nairobi in 1984 and followed up with a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law in 1985.
Since then, she has not experienced the frustration of joblessness—often referred to as ‘tarmacking’ by job-seeking Kenyans due to the extensive street-walking involved.
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She began her career at the Attorney General’s Chambers as State Counsel in 1985, worked there for three years, then launched her practice in 1989, before being elected to Parliament.
She represented Kandara Constituency for two terms until 2022 when President William Ruto appointed her to the Water Ministry.
Barely a year later, she was reassigned to the Lands ministry, with Zechariah Njeru taking over her previous role.
Ms. Wahome’s first bout of joblessness since her time at the Kenya School of Law occurred last month when President Ruto, in a groundbreaking move, dismissed his entire Cabinet following weeks of youth-led anti-government protests.
In a July 11, 2024 announcement, President Ruto explained that he decided after reflecting, listening to Kenyans, and evaluating the cabinet’s performance, achievements, and challenges.
However, just a week later, President Ruto re-nominated Ms. Wahome to the same ministry from which she had been dismissed, swiftly ending her brief period of unemployment.
And just like that, Alice seems to have returned to her familiar role!
This is the First Time I’ve Been Jobless Since 1985- Lands CS Nominee Alice Wahome
