Corridors of Power

Wednesday, 25 May 2011 00:10 BY POLITICAL DESK

An ODM senior minister moved with speed to forestall his arrest by Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission. The man reportedly had defrauded a government department of a tidy sum. He quickly repaid the money and interest before the KACC caught up with him. And when the KACC eventually came calling, the minister argued that he had at least paid back even as his lawyers argued that KACC could not now talk of asset recovery. We are told the two parties are talking.
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And talking of KACC, a Mombasa based businessman seems to have decided to run away from Kenya following forays by KACC officials looking into some of his business deals. The man who was very powerful during the Moi regime is said to have opted to settle in Dubai and has been quietly dis investing his assets in Kenya. The taxman is interested in the man's operations as he owes millions of shillings in unpaid rates and tax.
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ODM's defeat in the Ikolomani by-election has set a few officials fuming. They say  the decision by Prime Minister Raila Odinga to unilaterally endorse candidates before proper nominations are held is the reason the party lost. They cite defeats in Matuga, Makadara and South Mugirango by-elections where the candidates were unilaterally picked by the party top brass.
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The race for Nairobi governorship seems to get more crowded each passing day. A flamboyant and youthful city businessman is the latest to declare his interest. Kevin Malinga commonly referred as "Kevo" and a close ally of former Makadara MP Dick Wathika is sounding off some of his buddies to assess his chances. Assistant minister Ferdinand Waititu was overhead recently boasting that no one is better qualified than him.