Those who have met him will tell you that the burly Kieni MP is known to sweat a lot wherever he goes which is associated with his heavy drinking. But the truth is that at the moment Chris Murungaru is sitting pretty and poised to make a major contribution to the re-election bid of aging, ailing President Mwai Kibaki.
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In fact his leaving the cabinet has not had the effect on him that it had on his former cabinet colleague Kiraitu Murungi who took to writing poems that portrayed his loneliness and feelings of betrayal and being left out of things. The poems must have been really powerful because they tagged at the President's heart who recently reappointed him to the cabinet and took him straight back to his old ministry of energy. This was quite something coming from a president who is known for taking ages to make any decision.
Hon Murungaru has used the time in-between his court appearances and battles with the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission to build on his immense wealth, which he will do everything in his power to avoid declaring or explaining how it was acquired. So how did a minister who was dodging auctioneers shortly before the 2002 polls become so wealthy, so suddenly? Did he open a chain of pharmacies (Dr Murungaru is a pharmacist) countrywide and use his image as one of the leading personalities in the original Narc to promote it. Nope?
Like all rich folks in this part of the world, his sudden wealth is shrouded in mystery. He has of course been linked to the massive Anglo Leasing scandal, actually he was the minister incharge of security when somebody put his hand into the Treasury cookie jar and emerged with billions.
But even more disturbing is the real reason why Hon Murungaru was slapped with a Visa ban by Britain. It is said that British Intelligence has irrevocable evidence that he met with drug lords while in London and you can be sure that the minister was not purchasing a quick fix for himself, he prefers alcoholic beverages (see my other story on the Western intelligence system that spies on everybody).
It is with this kind of background information that this writer found it extremely amusing when the Kieni MP told reporters recently that the President was not responsible for his downfall and that therefore he (Murungaru) was going to pull all stops to campaign for his re-election. The really amusing part of the interview was that the former minister emphasized that he was going to use all his POLITICAL resources (as opposed to financial resources) to campaign for the president. What did he mean? What are political resources? Everybody knows that the minister has some cash stashed away somewhere (and it is not a couple of millions), why else would he be so eager not to have to explain his wealth?
So here we are in a situation where the president's re-election bid is going to be at least partly financed by cash whose origins is shrouded in mystery. That is totally beside the point in Kenya. What really matters is what tribe the candidate is in relation to that of the voter. But the even more ludicrous part of it all is that the same voters will start complaining loudly about the shortcomings of the same government they have elected into power only a few months later.
Sometimes I wonder whether there is really any hope for Kenya. Or are we all who read this blog with hope, just dreamers?
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Regular violent wife rape by a dutiful husband.
Hey Chris, I think your namesake will NOT play any significant role in Kibaki's re-election plan. He doesnt feature anywhere in who-is-who political heavyweights in this country. Remember we had a John Harun Mwau immensely wealthy in 1997 and 2002. He is even reputed to have offered to buy the Criticos farm in cash, only so as to be elected MP for the region that the farm occupies. The firm occupies the entire Taita Taveta district. Mwau never made any headway with his OSA VINYA slogan and seminars for various Kamba interest groups. Murungaru is likely to suffer the same fate.
ReplyDeleteI tend to think Kibaki's main campaigners and financiers will be:
a) Kanu (Moi/Biwott Axis) They stand to gain from an ODM fallout. They have every reason to fear an ODM government.
b) Muthaiga Group - this group will easily finance Kibaki's campaigns. They are backed by wealthy Indian businessmen and others strangers who have invested heavily in the NSE. Mostly have large commercial interests in Government and Kenya.
c) Mrs. Kibaki and one Nyeri Narc (K?) Activist. It seems they both strongly want a Kibaki 2nd term having
d) Wazee wa Kazi - Michuki / Karume / Nyachae axis. Very wealthy and experienced men in their own right. They dont want to retire.
e) MPs and political light weights. This is where the likes of Murungaru, Kiraitu, Mungatana, Beth Mugo, etc fall into. An interest in the Kibaki succession that is intriguingly growing by the day in Narc K. Also interested in short term deals like cabinet appointments,and parastatal appointments for their pals and relatives.
I see eventually ODM-K forming a collaboration with NPK/Ford-K. Phil, Kangemi
Hi Caro,
ReplyDeleteIts sad that you have to leave. Life goes on and you will be surely missed. We owe the peace and sanity of this country to you even though when people were receiving awards nobody considered you. Before you leave can you do us a favor. Ur the only radio personality that I know with guts. We need a young and responsible PRESIDENT. I have been seriously thinking about it and I thought that if we had a reality show where young capable people would apply. Something like Apprentice. Lets say 12 people selected, they select a campaign team of their choice and during the prescribed period they are taken to the 8 provinces (each group). For each visit to the province they are given a fixed amount which they are supposed to fulfill a project within a period of 1 week or 2. If the allocated money is less, then they should work creatively as a team to collect cash to fund the project. The winner of this reality show can choose to vie for presidency in the next elections and creatively we can slowly start solving problems in different regions. This can also help us bridge tribalism, and also develop regional areas without having to depend on our FAKE!!!! MPs. The public will be the one to decide who goes and who stays.
What do u say? Please! Please! respond even if its to tell me that my suggestion sucks. But for real, we are not going to get rid of the leaches in govt today. They beauty is that the "PRESIDENT" can decide to carry his campaign team in the actual scenario. I KNOW THIS IS EXPENSIEVE but if we have faith it can work. If this doesnt make sense please give me a call and I will explain to you.
Congrats for the good work. I love listening to your show and your team.
Rgds
Selina