The Chairperson of the Presidential Council of Economic Advisors David Ndii has responded to online critics who made fun of his weight gain, sharing photos and memes of him on X.
The photos of Ndii were taken during the Second National Executive Retreat attended by the Council of Governors as he walked alongside other leaders including President William Ruto.
In response, he said that his weight gain was a personal challenge of little consequence to the public and that could be changed.
He also hit back at his bullies saying that stupidity had no cure. The Presidential Council of Economic Advisors asked his bullies to find better things to talk about adding that the whole situation was a national tragedy.
“To be overweight is a remediable personal challenge of little or no consequence to the general public. To be empty headed is an incurable societal burden. Ũrimũ ndũrĩ ndawa (stupidity has no cure).
“To have so many imbeciles with nothing better to talk on a public platform is a national tragedy,” he said.
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Reactions to the Response
Dr Ahmed Kalebi lauded Ndii for standing up to himself, adding that being overweight was something that had many other contributing factors that could be addressed.
“Being overweight is an elastic challenge which has many possible contributory factors that can be addressed or managed.
There should be no shame in being alive to one’s weight challenges. No one should allow negativity from others on account of weight,” he said.
Additionally, Amwoga Khalwale said that “Body shaming only reveals the insecurities of the shamer, not the flaws of the shamed.
At the same time, Dr. Abdi Issa asked online critics to keep away from Ndii’s personal life adding that his personal space ought to be respected.
“It’s crucial to distinguish between private and public matters. David’s personal space should be respected, and his performance should not be judged based on his appearance. Let’s focus on merit and professionalism,” he indicated.
On the hand, Joyce Machau, hit back at Ndii saying that him being overweight actually had consequences to the general public.
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“Think about healthcare facilities and resources required as a result of health issues related to being overweight. Think about the large spaces required to accommodate overweight folks, on the planes, in public transportation etc.
“You may think that being obese is a personal problem, well not! It affects/inconveniences other people as well,’ she said.
Ndii at the Retreat
Ndii joined members of the Executive, including Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries, at the Naivasha retreat on February 21, 2024.
The purpose of the retreat was to assess the performance of the Kenya Kwanza government so far and highlight its notable achievements since the administration assumed office.
Later, pictures from the retreat were shared, depicting the politicians. However, Ndii’s photo sparked discussions when critics compared his current appearance with past photos, noting that he had gained too much weight.
