Lupita Sarcastically Laughs Off Balala's Remarks Of Her Being Inaccessible For 5 Years

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has been under fire following his appointment of supermodel Naomi Campbell as Magical Kenya’s brand ambassador.

Tourism CS Najib Balala posing for a selfie with Naomi Campbell
(Courtesy: Oliver Valante)

The Ministry was castigated for choosing a foreigner to market brand Kenya, as opposed to choosing our own. Many were puzzled as to why the ministry would choose the supermodel and leave out personalities such as Eliud Kipchoge or Lupita Nyong’o.

In a rejoinder to the same, the CS defended the move saying such appointments are made based on specific target markets. He also added that his ministry had been trying to get in touch with Lupita Nyong’o unsuccessfully for the last 5 years.

In a rather surprising reply, Lupita Nyong’o expressed her shock towards Balala’s comments, albeit sarcastically.

Me when I hear the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism has been looking for me for fives years. #Imrightherebaby #alternativefacts pic.twitter.com/jHmEVMSaI9

— Lupita Nyong'o (@Lupita_Nyongo) January 22, 2021

The post seems to suggest CS Balala wasn’t quite factual in his remarks.

This post elicited different reactions online with many siding with Lupita. As is the norm with Kenyans on Twitter, sarcasm never misses lol!

Maybe they were trying to communicate through smoke, blowing horns, and beating drums. Or maybe they sent a messenger on foot to the USA. If that is the case, wait for 7 more years for it takes a slave 12 years to walk from Kenya to the USA.

— Author Sakwah Ongoma (@CSakwah) January 22, 2021

Najib Balala busted! Kidogo kidogo utaskia Lupita is a Tanga Tanga sympathizer. 🤣🤣

— BRAVIN YURI (@BravinYuri) January 22, 2021

https://twitter.com/Kambua/status/1352581363606683649

Apparently Naomi Campbell has been visiting the country frequently and some think she rightfully deserved the appointment.

Noami Campbell has been coming to Kenya every year for the past 10 years more times than you have been in Kenya since you won your Oscar awards.
Give us a break you didn’t deserve to be Kenya’s tourism ambassador

— SIMON.P. OBINYA (@MrObinya) January 22, 2021

To be sincere, Lupita Nyong'o is not worth the Kenya's tourism ambassador. We need patriotic people like Naomi Campbell who have our country's prosperity at heart.
Lupita doesn't have that.
Eti alienda majuu…nkt!!! Alienda Wakanda fantasy pic.twitter.com/bmkFWE0e7x

— Habiba Abdi 🇰🇪🇸🇴🐐 (@Habibah_Abdi) January 22, 2021

Is Lupita Nyongo a Kenyan really?

Naomi Campbell loves and lived in Kenyan than the complaining Lupita of Wakanda. pic.twitter.com/KHvw40CbaO

— Kawangware Finest ™ (Geoffrey Moturi) (@cbs_ke) January 22, 2021

Campbell also wore an outfit inspired by the Kenyan flag at the Paris Fashion Week last year, putting the country on the map.

While we stand aside and look…@NaomiCampbell wearing the Kenyan flag at #ParisFashionWeek pic.twitter.com/fjCLOUQ2eM

— Kenya Pics (@kenyapics) February 27, 2020

It will be interesting to hear what the Tourism Ministry’s reply to Lupita’s comments will be.

We live it to you, do you believe the ministry genuinely couldn’t reach Lupita over the past 5 years? Was Naomi Campbell deserving of the appointment? Should her appointment be revoked and given to Lupita, or another ambassador?

Let us know in the comments section and keep it C.O.K for updates on this story.