Changing tack: Eyes on 2012 polls in Kenya

By Sunday Standard Team

Following the hotly disputed presidential election and eyesore of bloodletting they lived worlds apart. The disciples of the two key protagonists – President Kibaki’s Party of National Unity and Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement – could spit at each other on the face.

James Orengo

The winds of hate and suspicion around them, peppered by intense political rivalry, trickled down to their supporters. But when the National Peace Accord was signed, ushering in the onset of protocol and portfolio-sharing wars, the Grand Coalition swayed.

In the Cabinet the suspicion the other party was up to no good, led to a querulous assembly of men and women. It was then, which is never the case today, news when Kibaki met Raila. The question on the lip was: how far will they go? Who will blink first? Who is fooling who?

Today, four months after the power-sharing deal, which had many a hic-cups, while still solidifying, appears to have plunged its root deeper. When, for example, Mr Amos Kimunya, who ceded his Finance portfolio in the Cabinet until the outcome of the investigation into the controversial Grand Regency Hotel sale, he stood alone in the House as he was ‘roosted’.

Even the PNU side held its breath, and when Kimunya tried to whip up its emotions he could only count on Kanu chairman Mr Uhuru Kenyatta – a peripheral member of PNU.

William Ruto

But even more interesting is the way the closed-fisted greetings among PNU-ODM ministers have changed. Some, in Parliament for the first time, looked more like warriors than statesmen. Today some of the ministers, common on television breathing fire and brimstone, have changed tack. Some appear to have rolled up their sleeves and got down to work. This could have ambushed the sceptical country that Kenya is.

New rivalry

But there is a new rivalry, hidden but raging. It appears to be wrapped around the challenge; which side is the hardest working, not politicking. The destination is 2012, the last round of the unfinished race, because in the case of last year, the prize was shared under the watchful eye of the world.

As late as yesterday, the President who is on a second ‘controversial’ and final term, apparently in reaction to the early campaigns to succeed him, said his office was not vacant. But barring the damage that could be inflicted on the coalition by the waves of scandals, such as the latest swirling around Kimunya, and in which the President himself was initially drawn, it is down to work for some ministers.

Immigration Minister Otieno: Kajwang’ At public functions, it is now unlikely for one to associate Kajwang’ with his ODM campaign-rallying rendition, Baado Mapambano.

Last month, he unveiled Sh1.2 billion project to create a centralised database. It will, at the click of a button, show the person’s name, gender, marital status, residence and occupation, among other details.

Kiraitu Murungi

Kajwang’ explains this will make it easier to trace and know “our people” should they find themselves in trouble.

“It is not just about tracing people here in Kenya. We live in a global village. You wake up and learn that somebody with a Kenyan sounding name has been killed, abducted or implicated in terrorism abroad. And we have nothing to show that person is a Kenyan. This database will help us know our people,” Kajwang’ said.

Kajwang’ is also looking into ways Kenya can benefit from immigrants. Currently, the minister said, not much attention is paid to immigrants and nobody asks how the country can tap into what they have to offer. “America and Europe have benefited from immigrants. We must start too and we must be open-minded,” he said.

Kajwang’, like his colleague Mr James Orengo, is one of those who believe the country has for generations refused to think outside the box, largely because it has been run by people who want to maintain the status quo.

Kajwang’ is pursuing a radical programme that will give national identity cards to Kenyans from age 16. This new crop will be allowed to vote, have driving licenses, and own property.

He argues as was the case with women across the world until after the Second World War, the youth are being locked out of the affairs of their nation. Yet, he says, today’s youths are well informed at a tender age and tend to know more than their parents.

Higher Education Minister: Sally Kosgei

Dr Sally Kosgei never talks much. But she has made the transition from former Head of Civil Service to a politician and now a minister. At the Ministry of Higher Education, she is also preparing a Cabinet paper that should be ready in the coming weeks.

Johm Michuki

She will present a plan on how to ensure universities pursue science and technology and that the nation benefits from such pursuits. Kosgei is also worried universities are admitting more students without expanding their physical facilities. She also worries the admission of students has not been matched by recruitment of qualified lecturers.

She wants to set a national standard for qualification to be a lecturer.

Her biggest worry though is that science and technology are trailing badly in higher education. Even universities that are technology oriented are producing more social science graduates than, say, engineers.

Kosgey also wants to involve donors in the Higher Education Loans Board to get more funds to university students. Even where universities want to embark on serious pursuit of science, there are either no staff or facilities.

Medical Services Minister: Anyang’ Nyong’o

It has been long since Prof Nyong’o, in his capacity as secretary general of ODM, issued those scathing attacks on PNU or President Kibaki. Nyong’o is busy at work. Nyong’o says his flagship project is lowering the cost of health services.

His priority is curbing importation of fake drugs. In May, Nyong’o said his ministry had deployed its intelligence services to crack down on importers of fake medicines, which account for a third of the drugs trade.

He revealed that Kenyans might not be recovering from their illnesses because the market is rich in fake drugs.

He revealed that a survey by Kenya’s National Quality Control Laboratories and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board found that 30 per cent of the drugs in Kenya were counterfeit. Some were no more than chalk or water. Nyong’o also wants to expand health facilities in Nairobi to ease pressure on the region’s leading teaching and referral facility – Kenyatta National Hospital.

Sports and Youth Minister: Hellen Sambili

Prof Hellen Sambili’s entry to the Cabinet was baptism of fire.

She was named to head the sport and youth docket, which has a dubious distinction of bringing ministers down on their knees. Football, which ridiculed her predecessors, Mr Francis Nyenze, Mr Najib Balala, Mr Ochilo Ayacko and Mr Maina Kamanda, was again in the news, and for its string of bad news.

Turf wars in football leadership were raging again, with the Fifa-backed group of Mr Mohammed Hatimy and Bob Munro and their rivals, Mr Sam Nyamweya and his group, who are recognised by the Government as bona fide officials, claiming control of the sport.

Sambili weaved through the murky football waters adroit charm that won over not only KFF factions and the world ruling body, Fifa, but even with the fans, clubs and colleagues.

Her first mission at Kencom House was to get to the bottom of the matter of disputes and factional wars in sports in general and football in particular.

Her consultative meeting with selected journalists opened her eyes to myriad problems bedevilling sports and possible cure. Such meetings took place formally in her office and informally outside official hours. She goes about her work with gusto.

She almost brought warring KFF factions to a round table when they met Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his office at The Treasury, but in quick succession.

Her infectious smile has pacified critics. Somewhat uncomfortable with too much media attention, Sambili has a knack for hard work and delegates to her senior officers, Permanent Secretary Murugu Kinuthia, Sports Secretary Daniel Maanzo, and the Commissioner for Sports Gordon Oluoch.

Her other headache now is the Sports Bill, which is being ferociously opposed by vested interests, but which she is determined to chaperon to its logical conclusion, if only to bring a semblance of sense in sports.

As focus now turns on Olympics in Beijing next month, word doing the rounds is the minister is monitoring teams and will not tolerate joy-riders and others masquerading as officials or abdicating their official roles during such trips to take their wares, which they sell throughout the games.

The minister is also watching financial management in sports associations and how funds are used during major games. She is a minister with the finger on the pulse of the nation’s sports, and its health too.

Energy Minister: Kiraitu Murungi

Kiraitu, who in the last term was one of the President most ardent supporters, is among those who appear to have back-pedalled on confrontational politics.

He says the Grand Coalition Cabinet was committed to expanding the achievements of the Narc administration in the spirit of Kibaki’s re-election Kazi iendelee slogan.

“The Grand Coalition Cabinet is committed to making Kenya a working nation. I see ministers working very hard in their dockets. The coalition is functioning well,” Kiraitu says.

When he was appointed Energy Minister the first time in 2006, vested interests had slowed down the rural electrification programme.

Kiraitu, emerging from a bad stretch of having been dropped from the Cabinet under the Anglo Leasing scandal, hit the ground running. He scattered supplier cartels that had undermined rural electrification.

Kiraitu ordered that the rural electrification programme funds’ be henceforth banked in current accounts instead of the interest-earning savings accounts, where employees skimmed off the gains. He also opened up the task of laying down the power lines, to competition.

The measures helped speed up the extension of the programme, that aims at increasing power connection from the current 1,000,000 households to an additional 200,000 homes a year for the next five years.

Vision 2030 projects 40 per cent homes connected with power by 2020, additional 15 million homes in the next 12 years.

A new corporation, the Rural Electrification Authority, has been crated to undertake the task, while the Energy Ministry is restructuring KPLC and replacing it with Kenya Power Transmission Company, a State corporation to expand power distribution.

Oil exploration in the northern part of the country, suspended in mid-1980s by retired President Moi over security concerns, has since resumed with Chinese firms granted exploration licenses in Isiolo and Marsabit.

Environment and acting Finance Minister John Michuki

Michuki, who is admired for his hard driving and results-oriented style, has elevated the profile of the Ministry of Environment. Traditionally it was a dump site for political lightweights.

Before he was called in to stand in at the Treasury, Michuki was cleaning up murky Nairobi rivers. He announced last week he would spare nothing until the rivers flow with sparkling clean water. The former Transport Minister said the Government is willing to deploy the Kenya Army and the National Youth Service in cleaning up the Nairobi River.

Many promises have been made over the years, but Michuki is not known to make idle threats.

Indeed, many are glad it is Michuki who is in charge of the Nairobi River Programme. Its implementation requires firm and unpopular decisions, including relocation of informal settlements on its banks, demolition of structures on riparian reserves, and taking on commercial interests that drain their effluent into these rivers.

Last week Michuki told stakeholders at the United Nations Environment Programme: “Reality has hit me about the enormity of environmental challenges facing the country. Unless confronted now and urgently, it will undermine our ability to meet the Millennium Development Goals and Vision 2030.”

The programme is estimated to cost up to about Sh16 billion, spread over three years, and Michuki says the Government was willing to contribute 30 per cent of the budget with the rest coming form donors.

Michuki said among urgent measures already complete include: Demarcation of 30m riparian reserves along these rivers.

William Samoei Ruto: Agriculture Minister

Ruto says he has toned down on politics because the work is overwhelming. “I am surprised that some people find time to talk about 2012. Our hands are full. We have a job to do. Kenyans are waiting for jobs. They are waiting for the price of unga to come down and some people are busy telling us about 2012. My worry is that 2012 may come and find us with nothing to show the people,” the minister said.

Yes, Ruto is as radical as a politician can be. In his mind, he has no doubt that his party, the Orange Democratic Movement and its leader Prime Minister Raila Odinga, won the December 2007 polls.

But after a moment of spurring with President Kibaki’s allies, the Eldoret North MP has overcome his misgivings and settled down to work. In about two weeks, Ruto will take a paper to the Cabinet seeking radical intervention by the Government to revive the agricultural sector.

He will be asking the Government to write off the Sh47 billion debt sugar factories have been grappling with. He will also be asking for more billions to revamp ailing sugar factories.

The minister says he wants factories that can crush 15,000 tonnes of cane per day. Currently majority of the factories crush only 3,000 tonnes daily.

“Our sugarcane matures in 12-24 months. But even now, sugarcane that is 48 months old is still lining up to be crushed. Farmers cannot opt for the fast maturing variety because even the one that takes long cannot be crushed,” Ruto says.

The problem, he notes, is that the factories are operating obsolete machinery and cannot cope.

This week, the minister is expected to travel to the Coast to witness the destruction of 47 containers of imported sugar detained at the port. He says this is part of his determination to protect cane farmers.

“A lot of sugar is coming into this country disguised as fertilisers, cement, pasta and rice. All these products are zero-rated. We want to stop that practice.”

Until now, the rule has been that those caught importing sugar illegally are allowed to sell it after paying 100 per cent duty. The minister has stopped that, and cancelled all licenses for sugar importers and exporters alike. His reasoning is that Kenya has no sugar to export.

“We produce about 500,000 thousand tonnes of sugar and consume 750,000 tonnes every year. Yet people have been keeping licenses claiming to be exporting sugar. It is madness. We don’t have sugar to export,” he says matter-of-factly.

What the exporters have been doing, Ruto says, is to bring in sugar from outside the Comesa region, flood the market with it, killing local factories.

Some of those imports are what he will destroy in Mombasa this week.

“A person who lies that this is fertiliser when he knows it is sugar; how do you trust such a person to import sugar to be consumed by Kenyans? Such a person could sell you poison. We have agreed that such people should be charged as economic saboteurs, after their cache has been destroyed,” the minister said.

In the Cabinet paper, Ruto will also be asking for Sh74 billion to turn around the agriculture sector. He will be asking that 4.5 per cent of the Budget be given to ministry every year.

The money will be used for agricultural research. He also wants the Government to start subsidising farmers as is done in Europe and US.

If that succeeds, farmers will be paying 60 per cent while the Government pays 40 per cent of the cost of production. For that, he wants Sh18 billion every year.

The Cabinet paper will also seek to commit the Government to help farmers access markets. He wants a wholesale and storage market for fresh produce. Such a facility, he says, will help fresh produce farmers to store their goods for long without fearing they will go bad.

“Elsewhere, potatoes stay in cold rooms for two years and they don’t go bad. In Kenya, it cannot take a month. If you don’t sell within a week, you start panicking that they will go bad. Then you sell at a throwaway price. If we cannot assure our farmers of market access, we have no business telling them to produce more.”

He will also ask for Sh500 million every year to market Kenya’s tea and coffee and he wants the Agricultural Finance Corporation to start giving farmers affordable loans.

James Orengo: Lands Minister

May be lawyer James Orengo was just the right man to run the Lands ministry, complete with its known crooks, barons and big ranchers not keen to share land. The Ministry of Lands requires a good understanding of the law, resolve, bravery and even a willingness to die.

In between hard politics and work, Orengo shows he knows what is wrong. He may for now be known more for the whistle he blew on Amos Kimunya and the Grand Regency, but that is just part of the reason Orengo is seen to have got down to work.

When it comes to land and dishing it out, Orengo says, it is not just laws related to land to be looked at. Land, Orengo says, is responsible for most of the problems Kenyans have, including the bloodshed witnessed every election year.

“Land issues cut across several ministries and have implications beyond the Ministry of Lands. They involve Local Government, Tourism, and Forestry. Failure to appreciate this resulted in land being given out and developed without environmental impact assessment, road reserves given away and public utilities in Nairobi privatised. My first duty here is to make this ministry understand this linkage,” the minister says.

But the biggest project Orengo is pursuing is a national land policy, which he says will address the injustices over the years. It is going to the Cabinet soon in the form of a Cabinet paper.

There goes Jim, another minister who has got down to work, and on his lip there is very little of the routine PNU-ODM politics.

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API/Standard.ke