MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2014

Now that Gichangi is out, will our Intelligence live up to their calling?

National Security Intelligence Service Director Michael Gichangi (left) and Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo. Mr Gichangi resigned on August 14, 2014. FILE PHOTO |

Former National Security Intelligence Service Director Michael Gichangi (left) and Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo. Mr Gichangi resigned on August 14, 2014 and focus must shift to who will replace him at NIS. FILE PHOTO |   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

  • They say that Maj-Gen Gichangi did not serve President Kenyatta well because his briefs often went round-and-round in circles, offering the pros and cons of multiple scenarios without any clear recommendations.
  • Indeed, at the time of investigations into the 2007-2008 post-election violence, the State machinery was focused on nailing Mr Ruto
By MACHARIA GAITHO
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Apti Parati Fideles. That is the motto of the National Intelligence Service, which, translated from Latin to English is Sure Ready Faithful.

Events in the recent past culminating in the removal last Thursday of Kenya's top spy, Major-General Michael Gichangi, call into question whether the service is living up to its motto.

All kinds of contradictory justifications have been spun around Maj-Gen Gichangi's sudden and unexplained resignation.

The most prevalent is that he had to pay the price for the glaring security failures that have seen Kenya become an easy target for terrorists or internal bandits over the past year, notably the Westgate Mall attack just under one year ago and the attacks in Mpeketoni and other parts of Lamu and Tana River counties the other month.

Another is that he was the loser in a titanic battle with military commander Julius Karangi for President Uhuru Kenyatta's ear, and general control of the security apparatus.

The blame games and finger-pointing between Maj-Gen Gichangi, Gen Karangi and Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo every time there is a security lapse also come into play.

One popular version is that in the wake of the Mpeketoni attacks, the Intelligence chief angered his political bosses by rejecting orders to manufacture "evidence" that would back public statements from President Kenyatta and Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku that linked Mr Raila Odinga to the violence.

If so, that would be a credit to his integrity and professionalism, but there is also the contrary spin coming from well-connected types around State House that such attacks reflect glaring failures on the part of the Intelligence services.

ICC EVIDENCE

They say that Maj-Gen Gichangi did not serve President Kenyatta well because his briefs often went round-and-round in circles, offering the pros and cons of multiple scenarios without any clear recommendations.

That latter version is being contrasted with Gen Karangi, who is supposed to be firm, decisive and clear in the advice he gives the President.

Also being played up are the tales of the general distrust that came with the ascension to power of President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. Maj-Gen Gichangi has been accused of providing evidence that was later used to indict the Jubilee duo at the ICC.

Indeed, at the time of investigations into the 2007-2008 post-election violence, the State machinery was focused on nailing Mr Ruto, who was seen to have prosecuted the most deadly phase yet of retired President Moi's ethnic cleansing campaigns from the early 1990s targeting the Kikuyu settled in Rift Valley.

Things were to turn around when Mr Ruto, who was in Mr Odinga's ODM camp at the 2007 elections, reunited with Mr Kenyatta, to form the victorious Jubilee alliance.

TRUSTED 'HOME BOYS'

Mr Ruto, however, did not forget, and his cohorts have been loudly baying for the blood of the Intelligence boss, the Secretary to the Cabinet and former civil service chief Francis Kimemia, the Interior PS moved to Defence in last week's reshuffle Mutea Iringo, and State House political adviser Nancy Gitau.

The quartet was blamed for both the ICC evidence, as well as the abortive plot ahead of the last elections to force Mr Kenyatta out of the race and prop up former Vice-President Musalia Mudavadi. Much of that is probably water under the bridge now, but some of the officials still in high office will be looking over their shoulders.

Meanwhile, focus must shift to who will replace Maj-Gen Gichangi at NIS. It has been an unwritten rule in Kenya that the President appoints key security officials from amongst trusted 'Home Boys'.

Already under considerable pressure for packing most strategic positions with his Kikuyu tribesmen, and some from Mr Ruto's Kalenjin corner, President Kenyatta has a golden opportunity to break the mold by looking out for a competent Intelligence chief from beyond the ethnic alliance.

He can easily do that if he comprehends that the Intelligence job is not about service to personal, ethnic and partisan interests; but to national security.

mgaitho@ke.nationmedia.com Twitter: @MachariaGaitho

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