Sunday, May 8, 2011

Possible replacements are Kibaki blue-eyed boys

By Gakuu MathengeDebate and jostling for Muthaura succession has been around since 2007, when he was expected to give way to a successor from either Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) or PNU princes.
But the bets went badly awry after the disputed 2007 General Election, followed by post-election violence in 2008.
In 2009, former PS for Youth and Sports Kinuthia Murugu’s name was flying around as clear front-runner in Kibaki’s court. This was, however, before he was shot dead.
At his death, Murugu was riding high on the Youth Enterprise Fund and the Kazi Kwa Vijana initiatives, which have since fizzled out.
Other names that keep popping up include highflying blue-eyed boys of the Kibaki administration in both public service and private sector.
They include Agriculture PS Romano Kiome, KenGen MD and 2007 Kibaki Tena campaign strategist Eddy Njoroge, Roads PS Michael Kamau, scholar and PNU strategist Peter Kagwanja, Internal Security PS Francis Kimemia, PS in Prime Minister’s office Mohamed Isahakia, lawyer and PM’s personal assistant Caroli Omondi and former Foreign Affairs PS, Mr Thuita Mwangi.
Coalition politicsOthers include female Permanent Secretaries Mary Ngari (Medical Services), Amina Muhammed (Justice PS), and Dorothy Ang’ote (Lands).
While Grand Coalition politics are likely to complicate matters for some, association with discredited transactions may make things difficult for others.
Probity questions hanging above their heads about controversial transactions under their dockets are yet to clear for others.
While Thuita was on the spot over controversial disposal of Kenyan diplomatic properties abroad that resulted in both him and former Minister Moses Wetang’ula being eased out of office, the shadow of 2009 controversial relief maize purchase that resulted in Kiome’s temporary suspension is yet to clear.
Kamau hails from Nyeri, and his proximity to President Kibaki’s home may not be a plus for his prospects, while Mr Njoroge is perceived to be too close to PNU politics, having been deeply involved in Kibaki’s re-election campaigns.
Kimemia has little or no other experience in the Civil Service or private sector outside the Provincial Administration where he served as DC for many years before rising to deputy secretary, and eventually PS, after departure of his predecessor Francis Gituai.
Think tankBesides consulting for both Kenya and South African governments through the Africa Policy Institute think tank, Prof Kagwanja has not held any mainstream Civil Service job besides teaching in local and foreign universities in South Africa and US.
Before the maize importation scam in 2009, Kiome was a leading contender for the job, not least because of the influence his Meru community wields in Government.
Even if Kibaki wanted to let Muthaura go, his latitude in search of a replacement is severely constrained by the power-sharing arrangements of the National Accord and which have since been secured in the Constitution by transition clauses that oblige him to make appointments "in consultations with the Prime Minister".
"ODM should be dreaming to even think they could appoint the head of public service and a secretary to the Cabinet. That would be tantamount to a coup inside President Kibaki’s power base," said a PNU politician.
But Prime Minister Raila Odinga has proven on several occasions he can assert himself and get appointments done without his approval reversed.

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