[UAH] Why Uhuru had to inherit Kibaki’s old kitchen Cabinet

http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Why-Uhuru-had-to-inherit-Kibaki-s-old-kitchen-Cabinet/-/440808/1876544/-/kwc420z/-/index.html

 

 

 

The core team of President Uhuru Kenyatta's government is now largely in place with the appointment of 26 Principal secretaries on Friday.

A majority of names on the PSs list are hardly familiar to most Kenyans, continuing a trend of the President trying to spruce up the face of the Jubilee government.

But the appointments are equally significant for the retention of a select few in strategic government positions.

Mr Mutea Iringo, the PS for Interior and Co-ordination of National Government, is no doubt set to call the shots at a ministry which has been conveniently put under a Cabinet Secretary with as much national security experience as your favourite waiter.

With Mr Iringo staying put, Mr Kenyatta has about inherited Kibaki's entire kitchen Cabinet.

Among others believed to have had the former President's ear are Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia and Prof Githu Muigai, the Attorney-General.

Interestingly, some of the names were linked to the pre-election plot hatched by the famous "dark forces" to have Mr Kenyatta step down for Mr Musalia Mudavadi.

So why does Mr Kenyatta appear to keep faith with the people who almost dashed his presidential dreams?

Well, you've got to spare a thought for the President, his government and their unique challenges.

No Kenyan president has come to office with so much crisis of confidence ever since Daniel arap Moi's rough ride to power amid the storm of the Change-the-Constitution movement.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) case never seems to go away in spite of the fiercest diplomatic assault ever launched on The Hague-based court.

Not once

The shadow of Raila Odinga, the man who says the presidency has been stolen from him, not once but twice, is still lurking ominously in public life in spite of the State's best effort to put him in his place.

Then there is the emerging nightmare of devolution, increasingly popular with a majority of Kenyans for its promise of equitable distribution of resources and development at the grassroots, but which is perceived in some quarters as a threat to the tribal hegemony.

Now the job of checking any of these three threats is not one you expect the President to entrust with a smart corporate leader or technocrat when he has a few tried and tested hands within the system to choose from.

Prof Muigai's eloquence and propensity to pick a fight with ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at the slightest opportunity fits the profile of an AG the President can rely on to outfox the prosecutor.

Mr Kimemia and Mr Iringo, provincial administrators through and through, are just the people the President needs to grab him back some powers lost to the governors and the Senate.

And, Mr Kimemia's name is never far away whenever a VIP is humiliated at the airport!

Otieno Otieno is chief sub-editor, Business Daily. jkotieno@ke.nationmedia.com. Twitter @otienootieno