Kibaki, Raila to reshuffle PSs ahead of transition to devolution

By Ben Agina, [Associate Editor]

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are working on a new face of Government whose highlight is either shuffling of Permanent Secretaries or replacement of the entire cadre, sources reveal.

Sources familiar with the process explain that the changes to be unveiled anytime now are part of measures being taken in the transition to devolved form of government. The move comes amid fears that State corporations, which are under the close watch of PSs, have quietly been off-loading public assets ahead of transition to county governments. The new administrative units and management style take full effect immediately after the General Election.

The Cabinet has already stopped the sale of public assets by both the central Government and Local Authorities as Kenya prepares for the devolved system.

On Wednesday at State House, Nairobi, President Kibaki witnessed the swearing-in of the acting Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Francis Kimemia, who replaced Francis Muthaura last week.

President Kibaki during the swearing-in of Acting Head of Civil Service and Cabinet to Secretary Francis Kimemia at his Harambee House Office, Nairobi, Wednesday. [PHOTO: PPS]

Kimemia is now expected to take charge of a completely revamped team when the two principals make the new appointments. PSs occupy a special place in public governance since they are the accounting officers in ministries.

A Bill to ease the transition has been published and will now be tabled in Parliament by the Minister for Local Government, Musalia Mudavadi, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, for debate.

Sources within Government said President Kibaki and the Cabinet have also decided an inventory of all the assets should be undertaken.

The Standard learnt the reorganisation of Government was expected last month, but was deferred as the Kibaki administration grappled with demands Muthaura should step aside following confirmation of charges of crimes against humanity by International Criminal Court.

"Before the resignation of Muthaura the principals had agreed to meet and re-organise the Government. They have a team that will oversee the transition to devolved government. It will be a major reshuffle," a source familiar with the goings-on in Government told The Standard Wednesday.

Lobbying

The changes will also see PSs who have expressed interest in elective positions during polls replaced.

But the PSs, who will be picked this month, will serve until the after the General Election, and then pave way for new accounting officers with new titles of principals secretaries.

The Constitution decrees that the President shall nominate a person for appointments as principal secretary from among persons recommended by the Public Service Commission, and with the approval of the National Assembly.

Some of the PSs who have shown political ambitions are James ole Kiyiapi (Education) and Emmanuel Kisombe (Immigration). Ken Lusaka (Livestock) and John Lenyangapuo (Public Works) have also been mentioned in race for county governors.

At the State Law Office, there is intense lobbying for possible replacement of Solicitor General Wanjuki Muchemi, whose contract expires on March 28. Names floated as possible replacements for Wanjuki are Land PS Lands Dorothy Angote, who previously worked at Sheria House, and Christine Agimba, who is deputy Solicitor General, but on secondment at the Treasury.

There is also lawyer, Donald Kipkorir, the Dean Faculty of Law, Kabarak University, Musili Wambua, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Dorcas Oduor Agik, and Ombudsman Otiende Amollo.

But our sources could not confirm whether the reorganisation of Government would involve merging some ministries and trimming them down to 19’ from 42. The Constitution requires that the Cabinet must be not less than 14, and not more than 22 Cabinet secretaries. They will replace the current ministers.

In the confidential proposal obtained by The Standard, several ministries with related or overlapping functions have been merged. Ministerial functions have also been restructured to give way to a lean, but powerful Cabinet that delivers.

Merger

Five current ministries have been combined to create Ministry of Agriculture. Six others have also been lumped under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The new Ministry of Agriculture will take charge of 40 State functions and have elaborate control over 42 State corporations. It is the largest portfolio in the next government.

The new proposal combines the current ministries of Agriculture now under Sally Kosgei, Ministry of Livestock (Mohamed Kuti), Fisheries (Amason Kingi), Co-operatives (Joseph Nyagah), and Water and Irrigation (Charity Ngilu).

Immigration, National Heritage and Culture, Special Programmes, Development of Northern Kenya, and the Provincial Administration are proposed for merger under the Home Affairs docket. The ministry will take charge of the restructured Provincial Administration, including county co-ordinators, DCs, chiefs and assistant chiefs. The National Police Service Commission, the National Intelligence Service, and Defence Council will remain at the Ministry of National Security, which has been merged with Defence.

The Ministry of Local Government has been renamed Ministry of Devolution and County Governments. The new docket combines the current Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan and Local Government and will oversee devolution.

Other ministries proposed for merging include Ministry of East African Community, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Roads and Ministry of Public Works.

The Ministry of Industrialisation, Ministry of Regional Development, and Ministry of Trade have been lumped under the proposed Ministry of Trade and Industrialisation.