from People For Peace
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News
BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2011
Although it could appear as if some Members of Parliaments condemn President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga for horse-trading in filling new positions on ethnic background, as a matter of fact the accusation is focused on Raila and not Kibaki as such.
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How comes the debate is coming shortly after President Kibaki signed the gazette notice giving the nine-member Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) the mandate to succeed the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC).
Of course the accusation is not centred to the entire members but on its chairman lawyer Ahmed Isaack Hassan after Kibaki’s consultation with Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Kibaki has also appointed Yusuf Abdulrahman Nzibo, Mohamed Alawi Hussun, Abdullahi M. Sharawe, Lilian Bokeeye Mahiri-Zaja, Thomas Letangule, Joyce Muthoni Wangai, Albert Bwire and Kule Galma Godana to be members of the IEBC.
At the same time, the President also appointed lawyer Otiende Amolo as chairman of the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), which takes over the responsibilities of the Ombudsman — the Public Complaints Standing Committee. Dr Regina Mwatha and Ms Saadia Abdikadir Mohamed were appointed members of the commission.
The names were approved by MPs last Thursday, even though some of them had threatened to reject the list on grounds of regional and religious imbalance.
Most of those who had voiced their opposition were either absent or remained silent as their colleagues discussed the list.
The war with Raila over Isaack Hassan did not begin with his confirmation as the chairman but even when he was an interim. Some politicians allied to Kibaki made propaganda that Hassan has managed to use his networks to manipulate forces around the Raila to ensure that he was retained as the chairman.
The accusations can be traced back when Raila challenged Kibaki on the appointment of Justice Kihara Kariuki as Chief Justice. Raila’s argument was based on the fact that it was wrong for Kibaki to replace a Kikuyu for another Kikuyu-that is why he wanted Justice Riaga Omollo.
While Moi basically made his appointments with a heavy ethnic bias and, even worse, no consideration for qualification, Raila wondered why Kibaki could do the same, especially in the Judiciary where all the appointees are from Kibaki ethnic community.
Raila was arguing that if Chief Justice Evans Gicheru retires there was no point to appoint Kihara.
Raila’s argument was also based on the fact that to make a balance in Judiciary he could not also appoint Githu Mungai as Attorney General. Other appointees that Raila challenged included Muchemi Wanjuki as Solicitor General, Deputy Solicitor General, Muthoni Kimani, Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u, Deputy registrar-general, F M Ng’ang’a, and Registrar General Bernice Gachegu.
Similar argument was also centred on the Ministry of Internal Security and Provincial Administrative where the Minister, Prof George Saitoti Kinuthia has hired all from his ethnic community, raging from Permanent secretary – Kimemia, CID Director – Ndegwa Muhoro, AP Commandant – K. Mbugua, Commissioner of Police Matthew Iteere, GSU boss Munga Nyale, Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe, NSC – Peace and Conflict Management Mr. S.K. Maina, Government Printer: Andrew Rukaria, and Senior Director Administration/Internal Security: E. Mutea
Similar argument was also centred on the Finance Ministry where Minister is Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, Permanent Secretary – Joseph Kinyua -Pensions secretary – Anne Mugo, ERD director – Kenneth Mwangi D/Finance secretary – Mwirichia, Controller and Auditor – General; Priscilla Njeri Komora.
Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Governor-Prof. Ndungu, Dep. Governor – John Gikonyo, Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner General; Michael Waweru, Board Secretary: Mrs Ngang’a, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Investigation and Enforcement:Mr Joseph Nduati, Deputy Commissioner, Investigation and Enforcement: Mr Namu Nguru, Deputy Commissioner, Administration: Mr Karimi and Deputy Commissioner Procurement: Ms Murichu.
Commissioner for customs services: Mrs. Wambui Namu, Senior Deputy Commissioner (Customs): Ms Githinji, Deputy Commissioner, Finance: Ms Wachira, Commissioner Domestic Taxes (LTO)-Mr Njiraini.
Deputy Commissioner: Mrs Mwangi, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Finance: Mrs King’ori. Senior Assistant Commissioner, Security: Major Kariuki, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Southern Region: Wagachira and Commissioner of Investigation and Enforcement; Joseph Nduati.
In Kenya Airports Authority MD is Stephen Gichuki, General Manager Finance; John Thumbi, General Manager Marketing and Business Development; Lucy Mbugua, General Manager Information and Communication, Technology; Anthony Wachira, General Manager Security Services; Stanley Mutungi, Head of Corporate Communications / PA to the MD: Dominic Ngigi, Head of Procurement and Logistics: Allan Muturi.
While Kenya Ports Authority is headed by Gichiri Ndua as MD, in the Ministry of Industrialization: Assistant Minister: Nderitu Muriithi, Chairman of the National Standards Council, Karanja Thiong’o, Permanent Secretary in my Ministry, Karanja Kibicho, Chairman of the Board: Eng. Geoffrey Ng’ang’a Mang’uriu.
Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC)- Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer; Joseph K Njoroge, Company Secretary; Laurencia K Njagi, Chief Manager, Energy Transmission; Sammy MuitaChief Manager, Commercial Services; Rosemary K GitongaChief Manager, Distribution; Benson MuriithiChief Manager, Planning, Research and Performance Monitoring; Eng. Raphael Mwaura.
Kenya Petroleum Refineries: General Manager: John Mruttu, Finance Manager: Reuben Ndinya, Human Resource Manager: Martin Wahome and Engineering Manager: Charles Nguyai.
It is against the background that even though Raila has also been accused of appointing Caroli Omondi as Principal Administrative Secretary/Chief of Staff Office of the Prime Minister, his argument is based on the fact that other Omondi other staff members are from different ethnic communities.
His Permanent Secretary is DR Mohamed Isahakia, born in Eldoret in the Rift Valley Province and Alfred Khanga’ati, born at Namwacha Village, Bungoma South District among others.
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