Folks,
 
Attached is the Letter Mwatela wrote to Muthaura.
 
Judy Miriga
USA
 

National News

Mwatela¢s transfer angers legislators
Updated on: Friday, September 12, 2008
Story by: Philip Mulee
…….
THE controversy kicked off by erstwhile Central Bank Deputy Governor Jacinta Mwatela who declined a promotion as Permanent Secretary, yesterday sucked in the chairman of the powerful Public Accounts Committee and a cross section of MPs. The legislators threatened to sponsor a censure motion against the Government if the promotion is not revoked.The MPs and the House Committee claimed that Mwatela was being victimised because of alleged information she has on the De La Rue currency printing deal and other “underhand dealings” at the CBK.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Bonny Khalwale and Coast Province legislators, in separate media briefings yesterday termed Mwatela¢s promotion to Permanent Secretary status as “a total contravention of the law”. The Coast MPs argued on the hypothesis that if CBK Governor Prof… Njuguna Ndung¢u were to be fired over his involvement in the Grand Regency saga, Mrs. Mwatela will be next in line and “therefore removing her now appears to be calculated to deny her something which she deserves.”

And yesterday, Mwatela insisted that she did not defy anybody, but was only requesting for everything to be formalised.”I am not defying anybody at all. I am only insisting that they give me a formal letter about the transfer so that I can see the reasons behind the move, evaluate it legally, before making my final decision known,” Mwatela told Kenya Times on telephone.She reported to her former office in the morning and left at around 2 pm for a meeting outside the CBK. She maintained that she would remain in office until her request was met.

PAC chairman Dr. Khalwale and Coast Parliamentary Group chairman Bennedict Fondo Gundu, in separate press conferences at Parliament Buildings, supported the decision Mwatela had taken not to leave office.”The purported promotion of the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Kenya was in total contravention of the law.”The Governor and his Deputy at Central Bank enjoy security of tenure of office and can only be replaced if they die, they resign, they are incapacitated or are adjudged bankrupt,” said Khalwale in a statement he read to reporters.

The same law, he pointed out, allows the President to remove the Governor and his deputy in spite of security of tenure – but only through a tribunal.Probed by journalists on what action he would take if Mwatela is removed from office, Khalwale said: “We are speaking as the institution of Parliament, and the House has powers to censure if the government does not reverse the transfer.”Dr., Khalwale said Mwatela — as CBK Deputy Governor and chairman of the CBK Tender Committee– is the custodian of vital information that his committee would want her to “personally, directly and without intimidation deliver” in respect of among others De La Rue tender for printing new generation currency notes that was the subject of motion of no confidence in former Finance Minister Amos Kimunya.

Khalwale said Mwatela should not be victmised for promoting transparency and efficiency in the House. He said PAC would very soon launch a probe into the De La Rue currency printing deal.Dr. Khalwale last July spearheaded a censure motion against former Finance Minister Amos Kimunya following the latter¢s role in the controversial sale of the Grand Regency hotel to the Libyan government. The luxury hotel was sold at Sh.2.9 billion.Khalwale, supporting Mwatela¢s stand to remain in office, wondered why Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Ambassador Francis Muthaura had not sent her a letter to effect the transfer.

Dr. Khalwale was accompanied yesterday by MPs Elias Mbau, John Mbadi, and Charles Onyancha. Coast MPs included Dan Mwanzu and Hassan Joho. The fresh threat of a censure motion against the government emerged as confusion continued to reign at the Central Bank of Kenya after Mwatela declined to leave her office insisting on a formal letter and reasons for her removal.Mwatela refused to make way for her successor, former Medical Services Permanent Secretary Dr. Hezron Nyangito, forcing CBK¢s management to hurriedly create a new office for him. Dr. Nyangito had reported to his new office on Tuesday just to find his new work station not vacant as he had expected.

“Although the appointing authority may have powers to make any changes, such changes must, however, be done humanely and within the confines of the law,” a defiant Mwatela was quoted yesterday by Kenya Times.A source at the Bank had intimated to Kenya Times that Mrs. Mwatela arrived at her office at around 7 in the morning as usual and was held up in closed-door meetings in her office for the better part of the day. And clearly indicating that she may not take up her new job, Mwatela further added: “Other than reading in the Press, I have not received any formal communication from the Government as should be the case. I am even yet to be told reasons for my transfer,” she said.

At the press conference by Coast MPs spokesman Fondo–who was flanked by four MPs–accused the government of marginalising people from the region.The MPs, who thanked President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the renewed effort of reforming the process of delivery of services by the government to the public, however, cautioned that the changes should keep with provisions of the law.”Changes made by the ministers and which have raised eyebrows including those at NSSF equally concern us”, they said.

Mwatela was among two new Permanent Secretaries appointed by President Kibaki in Monday¢s late afternoon shuffle. She was appointed the PS for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands. A senior official in the Office of the President Mohamed wa Mwachai was also appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife.

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Date:  Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:13:17 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Judy Miriga
Subject:   The letter Mwatela wrote to Muthaura