A vicious jostling and lobbying by Uhuru Kenyatta’s key allies for Joseph Kinyua’s job as head of Public Service forced the president to postpone the naming of Kinyua’s successor when he made the recent cabinet changes.
The president did not want to annoy his family members and close allies by picking Kinyua’s
replacement.
He has opted to do more consultations before he unveils the new man or woman to take charge of the critical docket.
In the changes, Uhuru dropped Agriculture cabinet secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri and also shuffled some
principal secretaries.
President Uhuru and Kinyua
Kinyua, 69, had last December for the third time appealed to the head of state to let him go due to his advanced age and poor health.
There were unconfirmed reports that Kinyua has given notice to the president to exit the civil service by
July this year.
Already, senior civil servants are lobbying through the president’s men and even his family members so that they are considered when the position becomes vacant.
According to insiders, those who have been approached by senior civil servants to lobby for them include Uhuru’s mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, president’s younger brother, Muhoho Kenyatta and uncle
George Muhoho.
At State House, those who have been approached by senior civil servants to push for their appointment include Comptroller Kinuthia Mbugua and Uhuru’s private secretary Jomo Gecaga.
Others who have been approached include former Jubilee party vice chairman David Murathe, former
presidential adviser Nancy Gitau, national assembly speaker Justin Muturi and even opposition leader
Raila Odinga.
According to insiders, those jostling for the seat include Interior principal secretary Karanja Kibicho, former Nairobi provincial commissioner Njoroge Ndirangu, Energy PS Joseph.Njoroge, deputy Public Service head.Wanyama Musiambo and deputy chief of staff Njee Muturi. The name of CS Joe Mucheru also features among those eyeing the strategic portfolio.
Kibicho
The sources added that the aspirant whom the ODM leader will back is likely to carry the day.
Raila, who of late has become Uhuru’s ally is technically running the show and his word in government is final.
There are reports the ODM leader is rooting for Interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i or Njoroge to take over Kinyua’s job.
Other aspirants for the seat who have been spotted at Raila’s Capitol Hill offices include Kibicho, Ndirangu and Musiambo.
Musiambo
But the jostling has split Uhuru’s kitchen cabinet into various factions, with each rooting for a man from their own county.
Last year, Kinyua wrote a resignation letter to the president sparking intense lobbying for the coveted seat.In the letter, he stated he would prefer retiring due to his advanced age but Uhuru declined to let him go.Kinyua, one of Kenya’s oldest civil servants was appointed when Uhuru ascended to power in 2013 to a low reception despite few doubting the economist’s performance as permanent secretary at The National Treasury.His close rapport with Uhuru started when Uhuru was Finance minister in the Mwai Kibaki administration.
The head of the Public Service is not only answerable to the president but also runs the cabinet office which communicates executive decisions besides supervising and coordinating ministries and departments. Sources say that a move to name Matiang’i to coordinate ministers was aimed at removing some loads from the overburdened Kinyua.
Two of the president most trusted advisers, National Intelligence Service director general Philip Kamweru and former presidential adviser Gitau, are said to be rooting for Njoroge.
According to sources, Mama Ngina, her son, Muhoho and brother, George are backing Njoroge for the seat.
Kameru
They argue that apart from Uhuru, Kiambu does not have other serious government appointments and that is one of the reasons there is a growing rebellion against the president in his backyard.
They are telling the president that majority of the residents support William Ruto and the only way to contain the tide is to appoint Njoroge to replace Kinyua.
Njoroge is among high flying PSs who have not been entangled in the web of corruption threatening to bring down the Uhuru administration.
But the person to watch, sources added, is Kibicho, an overzealous administrator. Those pushing for
Kibicho say that he will effectively deal with Ruto faction in government.
Kibicho unlike Kinyua, has been accused of taking sides in Uhuru succession game, blocking the DP.
He works well with, a bulldozer and bold Matiang’i who was put at the heart of the executive following the president’s radical re-organization of his administration and establishment of a four-tier hierarchy of authority.
Sources say Musiambo, who is the second after Kinyua and would be the most ideal candidate, has been ruled out over political considerations being a Luhya. Musiambo is linked to Ruto faction and is said to have helped former MP Joash Wamangoli to be appointed chairman of ailing Nzoia Sugar Company. Wamangoli is for Ruto to succeed Uhuru 2022. Kibicho who chairs the powerful National Development Implementation Technical Committee which was formed by the president through Executive Order
Number 1 of 2019 dated January 21, is from Kirinyaga county. The PS has administrative networks of the national government on speed dial and is Uhuru’s Mr Fix it.
With new powers at his disposal, and support from State House, Kibicho has been an insider in the re-organisation of Uhuru’s government.For Muturi, the sources added, Uhuru has ruled him out though he is his close friend.Muturi’s undoing is lack of experience and work discipline, which are key components for one to effectively discharge duties.His dismal performance as Solicitor General is another minus for his bid for the seat.
The head of Public Service has an office both at State House and Harambee House.Kinyua, according to State House sources, is a workaholic and incorruptible, and has remained frugal – not one to waste state resources.
Even as his colleagues immersed themselves in flamboyance, he surrenders his government vehicles on Fridays and uses his cars on weekends, including Pick-ups, even though his home in Nyeri is nearer Nairobi.
When at the Treasury, Kinyua reported to work at 4am when even Uhuru as Finance minister trooped in at 8am or much later. He remains an early riser even at State House. No wonder he requires rest Asap.
Kinyua’s job description includes coordination of cabinet affairs and programmes for which those in
the know argued meant he should have been vetted by the Public Service Commission and parliament as stipulated in Article 10 of the constitution.The new holder of the office will be key in shaping the Uhuru succession.
