Saturday, November 26, 2011

Revealed: Inside Kibaki State House



By Isaac Ongiri
It is known to be a confidential meeting place for the President and the exclusive members of his Cabinet where powerful operatives routinely check in and out. But lately President Kibaki’s office at State House has even become a no-go zone for ministers.
Non-essential visits other than the official Cabinet meetings have been ordered restricted, with ministers who want to consult Kibaki forced to follow the ordinary protocol of booking appointments.
Even Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka who previously had separate weekly routine meetings with the President to share notes on official matters, have had their State House engagements with the President stopped. The PM, who used to visit State House every Wednesday evening for a dinner meeting, now has to meet Kibaki at Harambee House on Kenyatta Avenue whenever issues arise.
Preident Kibaki and former Head of State, Moi, in a past function. [PICTURE: FILE/STANDARD]
During their weekly meetings the two principals normally venture into discussions regarding the next day’s agenda in the Cabinet meeting, among other national issues.
Sources inside State House revealed that other than the official Cabinet meetings, top ministers seeking one-on-one appointments with President Kibaki have had to wait for the President to come to work at Harambee House.
In Kibaki’s first term powerful ministers and influential business players dominated the lobby of State House waiting to see the President. This trend continued after the formation of the Coalition Government in April 2008.
But things started changing after Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara was reportedly assaulted inside State House. Things took a new turn after First Lady Lucy Kibaki publicly rebuked Internal Security Minister George Saitoti over the Sachang’wan fire accident during a function at State House.
It is after the incident that the Cabinet office shifted Kibaki’s official working office to Harambee House.
Later a leaked diplomatic cable from the Wikileaks sent the First Lady and Kalonzo into a spat and the VP’s friendly trips to State House also dropped to a trickle.
Now only four top public servants have express access to the President’s official residence.
They are Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, Internal Security Permanent Secretary, Francis Kimemia, National Security Intelligence Service Director, Michael Gichangi, and Chief of Defence Forces General Julius Karangi.
"I have had no reason to see the President at State House, but every time I have had an issue I normally book an appointment to meet him at Harambee House," said Roads Minister Franklin Bett.
Mr Bett, who was a State House Comptroller during former President Moi’s Government, recalled how the facility was normally a busy place. It was there where the President held court with ministers, public servants, diplomats, and other distinguished personalities.
"I can’t complain that ministers are not meeting the President at State House today, but I can say that things have changed a great deal. In the previous regime ministers had the privilege of meeting the Head of State from time to time at State House," Bett said.
But he argues that such kind of extensive activities at State residence only happen when the President is hyper and outgoing.
Frequent visitors
Bett, who also served as deputy State House comptroller for 17 years, was fired in 1998. His then deputy, John Lokorio, replaced him. He had served for two years as State House Comptroller.
Under President Jomo Kenyatta, State House was maximally put to use with influential Cabinet ministers crisscrossing State House road to see him.
Mzee Kenyatta was famed for commuting to State House from Gatundu to Nairobi in his official black Mercedes Benz.
Senior members of the Cabinet including the then former powerful Minister Mbiyu Koinange, former Attorney General Charles Njonjo and head of intelligence the late James Kanyotu were frequent visitors to State House.
Currently, apart from the restricted entry into the President’s official residence, ministers are also subjected to thorough security screening when they drive in for Cabinet meetings.
"Yes, we subject them to thorough search by encouraging them to pass through metal detectors and scanners. It is good for their safety, and just to make sure nothing funny happens within," said a State House source.
Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo, however, prefers Kibaki’s style of operation arguing that the previous administrations may have abused State House.
"It is an important institution and it should not be subjected to abuse. Anyway for me, I have always met the President at Harambee House every time I book an appointment to see him," Mutula said.
The minister said that the security surveillance at the entrance maybe due to the crowded nature of the Government after the formation of the Coalition Government.
Former President Moi only used the palatial State House as an office and never spent the night there.
At the time, the President summoned ministers to State House for briefings, and also met official delegations at the facility.
During Moi’s time Cabinet ministers had unrestricted access to State House.
Assistant Minister Louis Nguyai says he has never had a one-on-one meeting with President Kibaki since he was appointed to the position.
Mr Nguyai, however, said that the President had to shift his base to Harambee House following heightened international activities in Kenya brought about by the disputed elections in December 2007.
New base
"You know how State House issues are sensitive, but what I know is that his shift of base was due to the necessity to make State House a private place, and to avoid allegations like those we have heard at the International Criminal Court of funny people having met there," the minister said.
The Minister for Northern Kenya and Arid Lands Mohamed Elmi said ministers had no problem where they met the President, but confirmed that working meetings with the President are held at Harambee House.
"I have met him a number of times. Whenever I want to meet him, I call his Private Secretary or the State House Comptroller to book an appointment. For all the appointments I have always met him in Harambee House," Elmi said.
Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode said Kibaki shifted venue of meetings to save ministers the hustle of going through the heavy protocol required to see the President.
"The President relocated his base to Harambee House not to dodge anyone, but to give ample time to those who want to see him without having to be held in the traffic jams for hours on their way to State House. Now ministers stream into Harambee House to see Mzee (Kibaki) very easily and very fast," Ojode said.
But even as VIP entry into State House got restricted, things are even much tougher for State House managers under the Kibaki administration.
Nelson Githinji, the latest State House Comptroller, was recently expelled and his bodyguards and official cars withdrawn in unclear circumstances.
Government insiders said Dr Githinji could be appointed to the Kenya Tourist Board. Kibaki’s Private Secretary Nick Wanjohi is now discharging his duties.
The Cabinet office has embarked on a search for a candidate to be appointed the manager of Kibaki’s State House.
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