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Sunday, April 13, 2008

Lean Cabinet and Kibaki Succession Countdown

Arguments on losers and winners following formation of the cabinet can only succeed in inflaming political emotions. The true winners in the whole charade are Kenyans in general and the press in particular. Both PNU and ODM have knowingly installed official opposition from within government. Checkmating in each ministry is the light at the end of the tunnel which can as well be that of an oncoming train.

The cabinet composition has formally launched Kibaki succession and the fight for next elections. Uhuru may have the sweetest laugh but not necessarily the longest. He may have his coat tail gracing Kibaki’s chair but his bum is not guaranteed the seat. Discounting Karua’s tantrums will be the height of political naivety. The holding thread is as thick as the current presidency. It will emerge very soon whether this marks the beginning of bitter succession wars or sounding Kanu’s death knell.

The formed cabinet have the unique opportunity to do Kenya two favours: comprehensive constitutional and land reforms. Failure to do these amounts to postponing the final national meltdown. They either chose to free Kenya from the shackles of INSTITUTIONALIZED MISGOVERNANCE or collective wash their hands with our blood. This is one fact that will either make or break one James Orengo. The guys must measure to all his reputation and name. No two ways about it.

Katiba + land or nothing
This cabinet bequeathed on Kenya by one Michael Rannenberger must serve as a transition to next elections. Given the pressure locally but particularly pointed push from without ODM had no choice but to loosen up and give in some more. While juvenile bravado will definitely smell gloating and chest thumbing, the deal is only a start and the celebration will produce a very disappointing end.

The indivisible dismembering of portfolios has give Kenya her leanest cabinet of 20 in modern history. Well, it is only lean until Kenyan version of deception hits you hard that it is 20 from each side. If maids get baptized as domestic stewards then minister for toilets can do with a rebranding in the name of sanitation. The brutal and harsh hand of politics has waved at Mungatana and his ilk. Poor Dunstan Buya couldn’t have his mouth's loyalty rewarded commensurately.

The inbuilt opposition promises a very vibrant press. Checkmating ministers and their assistants will definitely minimize if not eradicate grand corruption. On the flip side, the ultimate price will be muscle flexing and no meaningful work but official circus with competing loyalties. We haven’t seen the last card by the scoundrels yet, or have we?

24 comments:

  1. Taabu, reading your post was like eating Chinese take out; it felt good but left me hungry after an hour! Pardon my impetus but you wax philosophical about a Kenya that I do not know. You consider a 40 plus GK to be lean? How about the US that has a 15 member cabinet? Not to mention that some of these offices have 2 ass.ministers and god knows how many
    PS.

    And this notion of the Gk delivering to the people...how does anyone arrive at such conclusion? Doesn't experience and history teach us nothing. The same folks who hurriedly accepted flawed elections are now supposed to deliver proper governance? What is that they say about doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?

    Surely, am I off base or detached from reality in my point of view or
    what?

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  2. anon 4:39 PM

    so agree with your sentiments Taabu barely an hour ago put down deroo then in the same breath posts us mambo jambo that makes no sense?? lean government?? kanu?? karua?? uhuru?(who doesn't know that??)but really point he was trying to give was maybe orengo's down fall on Land ministry - the guy hasn't even started his job??
    then he goes on to say what did you say Taabu??

    nothing of substance- no blogger here is in grade 12 please think before you post arguments or your opinions here you sound no different than your friend deroo!!

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  3. Kikuyu haters will never stop.

    Lean Government or what if you hate a Kikuyu you hate a Kikiyu Period.

    Just like George Bush in America. Arabs and in particulars, Saddam Husseim people hate George Bush and George Bush hates them and there is no excuse.

    Uhuru may have the sweetest laugh but not necessarily the longest. He may have his coat tail gracing Kibaki’s chair but his bum is not guaranteed the seat. Discounting Karua’s tantrums will be the height of political naivety. The holding thread is as Dick as the current Kuma. It will emerge very soon whether this marks the beginning of bitter succession wars or sounding Kanu’s Moi and Kenyatta`s death manipulation. Kenyan`s will always blame the colonialists British American Company.

    Kenya should sek help from South Africa NOT US and UK.

    Mwezi.....! ODM Damu...

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  4. Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Kikuyu haters will never stop.

    Lean Government or what if you hate a Kikuyu you hate a Kikiyu Period.

    i think this is a personal and general statement and it does not represent or reflect all kenyans- so if you are going to abuse any tribe on here use the words "i hate kikuyu's" or shut up! i think individuals like your with filthy language have no business posting your threads on kumekucha- why not try mashada or other bloggs that use your type of lanuguage- i would hate to imagine you are a grown up individual over the age of 16 years and if that is the case then- you should be ashamed of yourself and even to imagine you can post such language or insulting words on here demean your political argument!!
    why use offense language to make a statement?? move on if you do not respect other bloggers who are here to exchange views while being respectable to each other!! use your filth else where!!! or show your damn face if you dare use such filthy words!!why hide behind a key board??? respect this kumekucha blog or move on!

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  5. There is no celebration.

    But I am happy we have a cabinet (albeit too large for my tastes).

    NOW LET THOSE CHAPS GET TO WORK AND YES, NO REST UNTIL WE HAVE A NEW KATIBA!!!

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  6. Politicians could dance around the cabinet.

    That will be impossible when it comes to the constitution. The constitution will be a do or die affair.

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  7. If they couldn't agree on a lean, 50 - 50 cabinet, sembuse katiba mpya?

    I think Kenyans are very soft. They value their freedom to choma nyama and kula happy. That is why they are settling for 2nd and 3rd best. It's always the lesser of 2 evils.

    My advice to Raila is forget the presidency. In 5 years he will be closing in on 70. He'll have a bunch of special interest types waiting to reap on their investment and it will be another Kibaki type GK. He should instead concentrate on empowering Kenyans. He should build and strengthen ODM to be a party of ideas and not individuals. He should work closely with the youth (under 45) in creating a vision of the future for kenya. He should set precedent in establish high ethics in office.

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  8. Who will be paying these thugs?
    Amaerican or British tax payers, Poor Kenyans?

    It`s time to go and uproot the Railway Lines again.


    Will Kibera Rrsidents be paying tax?

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  9. I have a question for Rail an Kibaki..Does Kenya belong to Luo`s and Kikuyu`s only.

    US and Chinan goes to bed together.... So..!
    When you travel to places that don’t respect human rights, are you supporting an authoritarian regime, or fostering the free exchange of ideas?

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  10. Charles.Nairobi.
    That he actually named the cabinet!Thats a good start.Its odd that Uhuru got the deputy prime post and he still owns almost half the land in this country!The land issues need to be addressed ASAP!
    The devolution of power has begun in earnest.It will be difficult for these people to trust each other the anodyne here is to work hard for the good of all citizens.
    IDIOT Mungiki are ready to go on the rampage!If they suspect the govt they should fight the govt not beheading their brothers and innocent kenyans!

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  11. Can someone confirm or deny whether the new Immigration minister from ODM Hon. Otieno Kajwang' is still STRUCK off the Law Society of Kenya register for misappropriation of client funds?


    M-Pesa

    Nbi Kenya

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  12. no he is not mpesa, he was reinstated!!

    i thot u left this blog why did u come back?

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  13. Acha fitina.... it's time for healing and reconcilliation. Let's all unite as brothers and sisters and work even harder so that we can pay more billions in taxes for this over-bloated cabinet...

    M-Pesa

    Nbi Kenya

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  14. The five most important Cabinet portfolios at that time were Provincial Administration, Defence, Finance, Foreign Affairs and that of the Attorney General. On April 14, 1974 these offices were held as follows:

    Peter Mbiyu Koinange, the MP for Kiambaa, was the head of the Provincial Administration and National Security. James Gichuru, the MP for Limuru, was the Minister for Defence. Mwai Kibaki, who was then the MP for Bahati in Nairobi, was the Finance minister. Dr Njoroge Mungai, the MP for Dagoretti, was the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Charles Njonjo, the ‘Duke of Kabeteshire’, was the AG.

    They all hailed from the southern slopes of Mount Kenya. With the exception of Kibaki, who comes from Nyeri, the rest came from a single district, Kiambu.



    On this day, 34 years ago, the Head of the Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet was Geoffrey Kariithi. The Permanent Secretary in charge of the Ministry of Defence was Jeremiah Kiereini. The Commissioner of Police was Bernard Hinga. The Commandant of the General Service Unit was Ben Gethi.

    The head of the Special Branch, the intelligence service, was James Kanyotu and the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department was Ignatius Nderi. Again, all these men were from the slopes of Mount Kenya.

    What was the situation like in Kibaki’s Ministry of Finance? Nicholas Ng’ang’a was the permanent secretary. The Governor of the Central Bank was Duncan Ndegwa. The executive chairman of the Kenya Commercial Bank was John Michuki. The executive chairman of the National Bank of Kenya was Stanley Munga Githunguri while the boss of the Income Tax Department was a Mr Ihiga. Again, all these men were from the slopes of the great mountain.

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  15. Who is likely to be the first thief in the thieves cabinet? William Ruto. Watch this space. Jack

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  16. Anon 12:59
    There goes the theory up in flames the the reason the kuyos have it so good is cause of hard work and industry......they just have been 'dealt' a good hand over time from the begining when it counted they had their hand firmly in the till....Its called a head start, and with propaganda you can have many people believe that your better than them.

    Sir Alex

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  17. 7:49 pm
    YOU SEEM TO BE BANKING ON THE IDEA THAT THE NEXT ELECTIONS ARE IN 2012?? CORRECTION.
    THIS IS A TRANSITIONAL GOV, ELECTIONS ARE COMING 2010, MAYBE SOONER;):)
    AND ISN'T IT STRANGE THAT YOU ASK RAILA, A "YOUNG MAN" AS COMPARED TO ONE THIEF IN CHIEF MWAI KIBAKI NOT TO RECLAIM WHAT WAS STOLEN FROM HIM, DUE TO AGE?
    HOW OLD IS THAT THUG KIBAKI? PAST 70 RIGHT?
    P.S, THIEF IN CHIEF WILL ALWAYS BE THIEF IN CHIEF, HE STOLE THE ELECTION, HE'S IN OFFICE ILLEGITIMATELY...WE HAVE SIMPLY ACCOMODATED HIM & HIS FELLOW THIEVES.
    I REST MY CASE!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. 7:49 pm
    YOU SEEM TO BE BANKING ON THE IDEA THAT THE NEXT ELECTIONS ARE IN 2012?? CORRECTION.
    THIS IS A TRANSITIONAL GOV, ELECTIONS ARE COMING 2010, MAYBE SOONER;):)
    AND ISN'T IT STRANGE THAT YOU ASK RAILA, A "YOUNG MAN" AS COMPARED TO ONE THIEF IN CHIEF MWAI KIBAKI NOT TO RECLAIM WHAT WAS STOLEN FROM HIM, DUE TO AGE?
    HOW OLD IS THAT THUG KIBAKI? PAST 70 RIGHT?
    P.S, THIEF IN CHIEF WILL ALWAYS BE THIEF IN CHIEF, HE STOLE THE ELECTION, HE'S IN OFFICE ILLEGITIMATELY...WE HAVE SIMPLY ACCOMODATED HIM & HIS FELLOW THIEVES.
    I REST MY CASE!!

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  19. Anon 3.12
    I think I said the "next elections". I don't remember giving a specific timeline.

    Yes Raila will be younger that Kibaki but my point was that it is time a leader stood for more than occupying state house.

    Kenya needs a change in its culture. We worship our leaders. Never mind the issues. As long as they are from our region, we want them in state house.

    Now we have accomodated a thief you say. Isn't that the problem? Would you find a man raping your wife/daughter and then proceed to accomodate him because he had more muscle than you for the sake of peace in your house?

    C'mon now, our pyschie is out of whack!

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  20. I think somebody asked from the previous blog, What happened to Kombo, Kirwa, Tuju and Gideon Moi.

    I am too eagerly waiting to know.

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  21. Kombo is thinking of ways of reviving FORD-KENYA, he is under alot of pressure...You mean kibs couldn't give him even an Assistant Minister...Ole wake, Kirwa i think has gone back to farming...Tuju must be in his media company, Gideon Moi i hope he uses this time to go for further studies and also learn some kiswahili...Kibaki used the whole lot of them and dumped them....Thank God they have realized not but it is already too late!!!!!

    Ivy

    Who is this mad man who can put me in the same box with Kimi who? and Mpesa of all the people..>Ei yawa that is is an insult of the year

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  22. I think I said the "next elections". I don't remember giving a specific timeline

    In your previous post, you said "in 5 years, Raila will be 70"
    Thats where 2012 comes in Anon 5:40

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  23. Actually I said," In 5 years, he will be closing in on 70..."

    According to his bio, he was born in 1945 which would make him 63 right now. I also think that am not being too liberal in suggesting that at 68, he will be closing in on 70, no?

    Regardless, he will be another old president and I think the time is here for the younger folks to lead. Just my opinion.

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  24. Hi,

    I'm new in this blog thing and is interested 2 know what I can bring 2 the table. Even though I have been "out" of Kenya 4 over 8 years all I hear is what I heard growing up, dissatisfaction with the "so-called" leaders. (Reminds me of the saying "the more things change, the more they remain the same"). It has been a few years since Moi let the polital landscape, what have we done (granted their is some progress), that we should not or COULD not have done????

    What can we do now to make sure that THAT istory does not repeat itself in this regime tenure??

    What can we do to preserve the future for the "so-called" leaders of 2morrow?????!!!

    ReplyDelete

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