After admitting to being single at 54, Central Bank of Kenya governor nominee Dr Patrick Njoroge got a very usual offer: a wife.
Appearing for vetting alongside nominees for Deputy Governor Sheila M’mbijjiwe and chairman Mohamed Nyaoga before the Finance, Trade and Planning Committee of the National Assembly, Dr Njoroge’s singlehood became a matter of interest, to which he responded:
“I am single by choice and I am comfortable that way,” Dr Njoroge told them. “There is nothing sinister with that and I am sure this committee has done its due diligence on what sort of a person I am.”
But MP Jimmy Angwenyi chickly said there was a lawmaker who had a single sister, hence the interest in his marital status. Dr Njoroge did not, however, take up the offer nor was he expected to, anyway!
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Dr Njoroge reportedly belongs to a Catholic congregation whose devoted members believe in promoting their faith through their work and everyday lives. Some analysts and policy experts suggest that Dr Njoroge’s personal life is not crucial in assessing his ability to run Central Bank.
The MPs were also concerned by his lack of assets and asked him whether he was reluctant to invest or was simply poor.
“Yes, I don’t have a single asset here in Kenya and this is where I am at this point and it doesn’t mean that this how it will be forever and I subscribe to being very deliberate about that,” he said. “This is my economic model and may be, years after retirement, I would want to invest in other things. That should not mean I have any financial inabilities. It comes with the profession.”
The Central Bank manages interest rates and inflation and is a key determiner of welfare and quality of life. The committee will give a report to the House, which will vote to approve or reject the nominees.
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