Editor's Review

Balala noted that the Ministry is ready and willing to work with Lupita on condition that she is ready to take up the role.

Ministry of Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has offered Oscar award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o another chance to be Kenya’s Tourism Ambassador.

Speaking during an interview on Tuesday night, Balala noted that the Ministry is ready and willing to work with Lupita on the condition that she is ready to take up the role.

“We are ready to appoint Lupita as Kenya's tourism ambassador when she's ready,” he said.

Balala defended his earlier decision to appoint Naomi Campbell as Magical Kenya Tourism Ambassador, noting that she is the best suited for the role, considering that she enjoys a massive following, and offered to do it for free.


Meanwhile, Naomi Campbell’s appointment did not augur well with a section of Kenyans who felt that Lupita Nyong’o should have been given the role.

Responding to netizens, Balala claimed that Lupita was unreachable for 5 years, thus the decision to appoint Campbell.

“I know everybody is asking why not Lupita. Lupita has commitments and her managers cannot allow us to access her. We’ve spent the last five years looking for Lupita,” Balala said.

In response, Lupita Nyong’o laughed off claims that she was unreachable when the country was seeking Magical Kenya’s international brand ambassador.

"Me when I hear the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism has been looking for me for five years. #Imrightherebaby #alternativefacts," she posted on Twitter.