...
written by Stephen Wanyama , April 13, 2008

Saw the race, and the end. None of the traditional embrace, seemed a little forced, kudos to Lel both for winning and for reaching out. These are trying times, and considering the allegations against the Rift Valley athletes and the fact that athletics has been one of the things we have always celebrated together, a rapid healing here will benefit the nation in no small way.

groan
written by Maina Gichangi , April 13, 2008

Guess the 20 member cabinet was derailed by the ODM who had to feed their members.

Uhuru
written by Stephen Wanyama , April 13, 2008

Uhuru's appointment is really sad. I loathe the ODM with all my heart but Uhuru really is not much better, not for competence or Kenyanness. All the ODM thugs are there too. All in all, little to even be relieved about. The pain, the pain.

ODM-K
written by Maina Gichangi , April 13, 2008

Kibaki does not look like he appreciated ODM-K at all. I am afraid this will come to haunt us in 2012 as the ODM is guaranteed to use it against our side. Very little courage from Kibaki here.

women
written by Ann , April 13, 2008

7 female ministers and 4 assistant ministers. Not that they will make a difference, but there is a sad number.

James Watt
written by Stephen Wanyama , April 13, 2008

Yet again I have to give you some mojo, Kibaki has greatly helped the ODM case. He has humiliated his Vice President and badly let down the Meru electorate. In trying to appease Uhuru or god-knows-who, he has wrecked his side's possibility at the election. I agree, Mugo and Mathenge was completely unnecessary, just insulting, especially to Kalonzo who was already under attack from the ODM.

Kimemia
written by Stephen Wanyama , April 13, 2008

Well let's put it like this. The ODM has spent the last three years telling Kenyans that the Gikuyu are untrustworthy, that they take care only of themselves. Now this is one of the core reasons for the violence, as recently as last week the ODM was teaching just this. Earlier this week, Ngilu was on national television attacking the Vice President who caught a lot of flack for coming to the President's (and the Gikuyu people's) aid in a time when Kenyans turned against them.

Next, the Meru who it has been made clear are tired of being ignored within the GEMA grouping, and who have made this clear time and time again.

It is also clear that the ODM, for all their hatred are a singular disciplined force, one that is united more than anything else by an antipathy toward the Gikuyu.

But what does the President do when he is given an opportunity to build a coalition across the ethnicities, to put ethnicity to rest? Why, he humiliates his principal assistant and political ally. He humilates the Meru who voted for him religiously, and most egregiously he appoints 8 Gikuyu Ministers.

Now, whichever way you look at it, this is bad, and it will read very badly in tomorrow's papers. The marginal utility of every extra Gikuyu Minister over the 4th one is zero, especially considering Uhuru's appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Kibaki's holding the Presidency. Kibaki has basically spat on these people's faces, he has proved those who said he was not to be trusted right and he has jeopardised the chances of the anti-ODM candidate at the next election.

Do you remember one of Raila's most effective campaign statements was that Uhuru would take over from Kibaki? The Gikuyu want to rule over Kenya forever? Remember? The building of a broad anti-ODM coalition and the refutation of the calumnious lie that the Gikuyu only take care of their own would have been Kibaki's greatest legacy (especially in light of this year's crisis). Paradise lost. Already the ODM blogs are exultantly chanting down the Vice President.

P.S. I am encouraged that both you and James Watt see this point. We have hope yet of building a coalition on this side.

re: James Watt
written by Kimemia , April 13, 2008

Yet again I have to give you some mojo, Kibaki has greatly helped the ODM case. He has humiliated his Vice President and badly let down the Meru electorate. In trying to appease Uhuru or god-knows-who, he has wrecked his side's possibility at the election. I agree, Mugo and Mathenge was completely unnecessary, just insulting, especially to Kalonzo who was already under attack from the ODM.

Well he doesn't have to worry about being re-elected in 2012 so i do not think he's to bothered by that.

Excess dulpicity repeated
written by Kimemia , April 13, 2008

Minister of State for Environment and Natural Resources - The Hon. John Njoroge Michuki (The Hon. Ramdhan Kajembe, The Hon. Jackson Kiptanui)

and

Minister of State for Forestry and Wildlife - The Hon. Noah Wekesa (The Hon. Josephat Lanok)

Minister of State for Public Works - The Hon. Chris Obure (The Hon. Dickson Wathika)

with

Minister of State for Roads - The Hon. Kipkalia Kones (The Hon.Wilfred Machage, The Hon. Lee Kinyanjui)

and

Minister of State for Water - The Hon. Ms Charity Kaluki Ngilu (The Hon. Festus Mwangi Kiunjuri),

Minister of State for Public Health and Sanitation - The Hon. Beth Wambui Mugo (The Hon. Ondicho James Gesami)

alongside

Minister of State for Medical Services - The Hon. Prof. Peter Nyong'o (The Hon. Danson Buya Mungatana)

In the same country, nay the same government!?

I worry this could create alot of confusion as to who is responsible for exactly what, surplus bureaucracy and all things related to the same..

Finally!
written by James Watt , April 13, 2008

Told ya! Everyone has to satisfy their people. If you don't want such cabinets, make sure they resolve the electrol issues, so that we don't have to resort to that second rate diplomat, Annan next time. People can go to courts, and we can have one clear winner.

Kibakis side does his side no favours. He could have done away with either Beth Mugo or Esther Mathenge and made either assistant minister. That post either going to ODM-K or the Meru side of the PNU divide. This folks will not be happy.

Sad, but let\'s move on
written by nyabs , April 13, 2008

Sad. It is painful for me to see guys that galvanized me to vote against ODM now sitting pretty in cabinet.

Also sad to see people who have lived past their use by date in cabinet: really, of what value will be Ntimama and Gumo in the new Kenya we are trying to build?

Guys widely to suspected of having blood in their hands, and of past corrupt deals are back: so much for a lean, clean government.

That said, I do hope that the politicians will now allow us to go on with our lives. That is the only thing holding me from going out and drinking myself silly (in a manner of speaking) to drown the disappointment I feel with this betrayal.

LUDACRIS
written by potash , April 13, 2008

(Peter Nyong'o is the minister for Medical Services.)

Now me what I am asking is what is the ministry of Industrialisation?

That said:

1. Does every one realise that 'peace' is going to cost this economy more than 'war'?

2. What is the effect of such a massive political administration budget on Kenya's National Development and the Implementation of Vision 2030.

Hehehhee...

Wake me up when we have leaders with something close to 20/20 vision

...
written by a guest , April 13, 2008

Holy Cow. Our Husbands have gone mad again!!!

Kibaki\'s folly
written by Amir Ibrahim , April 13, 2008

Well said Stephen. With Ukambani MPs already in a state of revolt, Kibaki has ensured problems for his side a) at the constitutional conference and b) if an early election is called. Truly regrettable about the 20 Ministries.

The more things change.....
written by benadede , April 13, 2008

the more they remain the same. What was that about 20 cabinet ministers?
Now that it has been named all we can do is to scrutinize it, comment and hopefully forcefully make these men and women work.

First, pole kwa vijana, the old hands have managed to keep them away from crucial positions yet again. I feel for the likes of Mungatana, Kabando and Namwamba. Even with 40 positions there was no place for the youthful MPs?

Uhuru, Uhuru. You could not just resist taking the deputy premier position! Let us see if it will serve you well.

Kajwang' and Orengo have landed important ministries. It is time people turn some heat on them as they have done on others before. Let us see if we shall get timely and sufficient number of IDs. As for Orengo, he has to handle all thorny land issues. He should also liase with Karua and Wako to bring to rest the Ndung'u report issues. Ataweza kweli? Karua and Wako should also start working.

Ntimama, Ntimama! Why could he not just be a back bencher waiting to retire in 2012 or pass on quietly(whichever comes first). Nkaissery could have replaced him. Oburu should have done well to also remain on the back bench. Omulo Gumo should have also kept off from the cabinet.

Ati Nairobi Metropolitan Development? [iKwani they could not get anything better for Mutula? And what will the NCC be doing now? I think if they really need this ministry it should cover long term development strategies for other major and growing urban towns too.

I wonder if Poghisio is the right man at Information and Communication. That ministry is critical and needs a visionary leader.

Once again, the talent of Kilemi Mwiria has been overlooked and he has been made assistant minister. He would have been my choice for minister of a unified Education ministry.

The disdain for Youth and Sport has also been reinforced with a minister and assistant who do not immediately come across as they will be up to the task in this crucial but marginalized docket.

Missing in Action: CB Okemo
Expected greater than asst. minister: Omingo Magara.

God help Kenya.

Ho-Hum
written by Daniel.Waweru , April 13, 2008

I won't attempt a defence of the Gikuyu representation, which does appear, comparatively speaking, excessive (although it remains below their proportion of the population). As Wanyama rightly points out, Kibbs needed to and could have appointed significantly more Meru and Kamba. And it's also disappointing to see so many of the same old faces -- surely Mungatana deserves a full ministry instead of (the bumbling and obviously incompetent) Mwakwere?

Still, NEP is well represented, as are Muslims and some parts of Western. I'd have liked to have seen more women, more younger people, and, yes, fewer Gikuyu. Missed opportunity then, but since when have even his enemies accused Kibbs of showing imagination?

re: ODM-K
written by Wuod Aketch , April 13, 2008

Kibaki does not look like he appreciated ODM-K at all. I am afraid this will come to haunt us in 2012 as the ODM is guaranteed to use it against our side. Very little courage from Kibaki here.

Who is us here?
2012 is far and near at the same time. Far if you realize that hunger is looming, near if we have to reform the country's institutions so that stability be here to stay.
The food crisis and "lavi che" the Creole term for the high cost of living, has brought violent protests in Haiti, Cameroun ...
If we want to avoid another violence because of "lavi che" the country's farmers should be given the means double their production. Those displaced people should be resettled as soon as possible and given the means to grow their own food.

re: re: ODM-K
written by Daniel.Waweru , April 13, 2008

If we want to avoid another violence because of "lavi che" the country's farmers should be given the means double their production. Those displaced people should be resettled as soon as possible and given the means to grow their own food.

Are you well? This is the first time you've contributed something sensible in quite a while; perhaps you need to take some Panadol?

Aketch
written by Stephen Wanyama , April 13, 2008

Waweru, Aketch is a good man, with a proper head on his shoulders. Like many others, he lost it under extreme incitement but he seems to me very different from your average ODM rabble. The man even has important ideas. KI should take him on as an editor I would recommend.

re: groan
written by Isindu Mwangaza , April 13, 2008

Guess the 20 member cabinet was derailed by the ODM who had to feed their members.

Quite the opposite my friend, it seems the Old Man got his way after all. Check your pulse!

...
written by manta ray , April 13, 2008

PNU has retained most of the powerful Ministries that were the bone of contention last week and that caused Raila to decline meeting Kibaki. PNU however capitulated on Roads and Local Govt and Raila gave up demanding Foreign Affairs, Transport and Energy. I suppose that is a win-win for both sides.
The reality though is that PNU is the more influential partner here as the rest of the other powerful portfolios, Finance, Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Defence and Internal Security, are in its hands. So much for 50/50.
What i find most interesting was that Ngilu did not get the Health Ministry as she was claiming she would just yesterday, it went to Beth Mugo. Game parks, the real meat of the Tourism sector, was taken away from Balala and Nyong'o did not get the planning Ministry, it went to little known Wycliff Oparanya. Instead, what Nyong'o got was a Junior Ministry called Medical services. Question is: What message is Raila sending here? These are supposed to be influential Pentagon and ODM officials who should have landed more visible and powerful portfolios and Raila had the power to ensure they did. Why did he not do so?
Uhuru's elevation should be seen in the context of the Kibaki succession, and not so much in what he can or cannot do as a leader. Given Kenya's tribal politics, Kibaki needed to signal to the Kikuyu that he is seriously preparing to hand over leadership to a younger generation and the symbol around whom the Kikuyu should rally around to chart their political future and in the coming new dispensation will be Uhuru.
There are indeed going to be new political dynamics as Kibaki increasingly becomes a lame duck President on his way to retirement.
It is, however, unlikely the Kikuyu will be presenting a Presidential candidate for 2012. If Uhuru manages to mobilize the GEMA numbers behind him, he could be the next Prime Minister under a new constitution.

Interesting point
written by Kimemia , April 13, 2008

Its seems something that has escaped immediate attention is the appointment of on Mr William Ruto to head the Agriculture ministry. With such a significant proportion of the displaced being not only the primary suppliers of Kenya's grain stocks but also residenst of areas believed to be his political stronghold how he settles he resettlement issues and cost of inputs for these maize and wheat farmers could do a lot of good or harm to his career.

...
written by limo , April 13, 2008

Well, kenyans you have seen it again. get down to review the costitution or else we will slaugther each other again come 2012. There is more crisis now than before Dec 27.2007

...
written by Kamale , April 13, 2008

There are many losers in this cabinet. Wanyama sees Kibaki not looking to the Meru voters, but does anyone notice that Raila completely ignored the Kipsigis who have slightly more votes than the Nandi who got 3 cabinet posts. Raila will also have to deal with the those in his backyard like Professor Nyong'o who gets a junior ministry and people like Kajwang and Dalmas get more important ministries.

Kibaki will not be a candidate in 2012 whilst Raila will be looking to create for himself a platform for 2012.

My view is that ODM has come out the loser in this cabinet - the lost the fight for key ministries and also a lean cabinet. So why did we postpone the naming of the cabinet last Sunday?

The challenge to Raila\'s govm
written by Wuod Aketch , April 13, 2008

Raila's new government have a challenge cut to fit the plethora of ministers. The rocketing food prices experienced globally the last two moths, some of which have more than tripled in two years are sparking riots in numerous countries like Haiti, Cameroon ...
The minister of Agriculture will have a very important role to play. This does not mean that we should turn to genetically modified food - it is a false solution to the real problem which only requires that people work harder.

Food Crisis Renews Haiti's Agony
How Hunger Could Topple Regimes

re: Nyong\'o
written by aeichener , April 13, 2008

Raila will also have to deal with the those in his backyard like Professor Nyong'o who gets a junior ministry

Be assured that Anyang' Nyong'o is already on the list for the quickly coming next reshufflement and further promotion.

Alexander
and people like Kajwang and Dalmas get more important ministries.

Kibaki will not be a candidate in 2012 whilst Raila will be looking to create for himself a platform for 2012.

My view is that ODM has come out the loser in this cabinet - the lost the fight for key ministries and also a lean cabinet. So why did we postpone the naming of the cabinet last Sunday?

Kamale
written by Stephen Wanyama , April 13, 2008

But what of the Ukambani vote? That is I believe a criminal decision on Kibaki's part. Whoever advises the old man really got that one very wrong. I think everyone in Kenya, including those in the ODM are shocked by Kibaki's betrayal of Kalonzo and a voting bloc that is 13% of the electorate. It is not enough to say that the man will not be running in 2012 (there could be an election in three months), surely he is responsible both to his party and to the country for a peaceful transition and for a proper management of the constitutional amendment debate. More than that, there is the question of parliamentary votes -remember that the ODM versus PNU count is virtually tied. Any ODM-K MPs choosing to fight with the ODM will really really hurt us. He really has screwed over the ODM-K, and I would even say he should have gone further with the Kisii and Meru votes, two very large constituencies that we badly need onside.

Manta, I think Uhuru has roughly the same constituency as Raila does, perhaps ethnically different but really the same. I would much rather Martha Karua as DPM, even with a powerless Ministry. Uhuru will now transmit another disaster to us from the very important Ministry of Trade. Can you imagine that, Uhuru taking the position of Mukhisa Kituyi??

I think both 'principals' fell far too much into pleasing their cronies, into pleasing money and what we can call 'experience' but which we know is something very ugly.

re: Daydreams
written by Wuod Aketch , April 13, 2008

If Uhuru manages to mobilize the GEMA numbers behind him, he could be the next Prime Minister under a new constitution.

A GEMA prime minister in 2012? I will not contradict you, but I think it will be very very difficult to make this dream reality. But you have the right and freedom to daydream.
Meanwhile let us fold our shirt sleeves and get down to nation building. 2012 is still a long way to go and as we say here Qui vivra verra!

re: LUDACRIS
written by simiyu barasa , April 13, 2008

Now me what I am asking is what is the ministry of Industrialisation?

That said:

1. Does every one realise that 'peace' is going to cost this economy more than 'war'?

2. What is the effect of such a massive political administration budget on Kenya's National Development and the Implementation of Vision 2030.


Wow, if the cost of peace (as the political class is busy saying we agreed for the sake of peace in this country)is actually this high, who needs it? What use is it saving people from dying in a war, only for them to die of starvation coz they cant afford food (coz we are busy paying for Ministers we dont need)?

...
written by manta ray , April 13, 2008

Aketch, you really make me howl. If only we could do without the tribal arithmetic in our politics, Kenya would be so, so far ahead. Instead, we are stuck with the likes of Uhuru, Raila, Musalia, Ruto et al., all because of emotional tribalist voters like yourself.
In this regard, your statement is precisely the attitude that will drive GEMA voters to Uhuru in droves.
The reality is that Uhuru will have great numbers of voters behind him, and anyone who wants to be President would love to have the Kikuyu vote in his corner. If you think i am lying, watch Raila's moves as he tries to actively mend fences with the GEMA. Uhuru, remember, will be under him as DPM. Just what do you think they will be discussing, how to develop the Country, you think? Oh, and don't forget that other character,Musalia, will just be down the hall. An alliance of big tribes, maybe? My friend, by now you should have learnt that in politics, anything is possible. ANYTHING.
Now let me take a deep breath and laugh a little more.

re:
written by Wuod Aketch , April 13, 2008

If only we could do without the tribal arithmetic in our politics, Kenya would be so, so far ahead.

And you are not one of the people who will take Kenya forward.

Cabinet
written by Jandege , April 13, 2008

Kamale,

I think you got it wrong about the Kipsigis missing in action. Kipkaya Kones and Henry Kosgey are not Nandis but Kipsigis. I am not sure about Sally Kosgei, I suspect she is one too.

Though not a supporter of PNU, my view is Kibaki should have shored up Kalonzo if only to appease ODM-K. The Ameru are also bound to feel short-changed further eroding PNU's (not Kibaki's)powerbase. I can only opine that Kibaki now only cares about securing his legacy.

Having said that, it must have been a difficult balancing act for Kibaki and Raila and we should support them as a patriotic duty. Rivers of blood have rolled down the countryside, let them water the life of our new country.

Lets roll up our sleeves and do what we do best- rebuilding our country. Like the legendary phoenix, Kenya shall rise again from the ashes.

God bless Kenya

...
written by Muciimi Mbatia , April 14, 2008

I saw this on rcbowen. Not the best play to get info, but this appeared relavant to this debate:

Everyone is saying Kalonzo lost. He didn't. He emerges out of this very strong and strategically placed. Perhaps ODM people realize this, that is why they have trained their guns on him.

The man is vice president. In Kenya, that is a heart beat away from the Presidency. Remember Moi? He was VP and everyone dismissed him. He became President.

All Kalonzo has to do is stay put. He is now VP, which means that he has a head start over Uhuru in the Kibaki succession. If he does not antagonize the Mt Kenya folks, and continues to sympathise with IDPs and businessmen, he will be a nice compromise in the future contest between Uhuru, Karua, and Murungi.

I can already see a Kalonzo-Uhuru ticket in 2012, against a Raila-Mudavadi ticket. By that time, Raila will be 70 and will be more incoherent than Kibaki. Who knows what kind of toll all the supervising and coordinating will take on him?

Kalonzo, meanwhile, can just relax, take a holiday, until Kibaki calls on him to deputize him at a funeral. Meanwhile, Kalonzo will simply do some cardio workout in readiness for 2012, while taking credit for any development in Ukambani.

Remember he already has inroads in the Rift Valley and elsewhere and was even able to get people nominated and some like Poghisio appointed to the cabinet.

Also, I think Kibaki understands and appreciates the crucial role that Kalonzo played in shoring up his government after ODM violence and challenge. If Kalonzo had thrown his weight with the ODM, we would be talking a different story.

That is why Kibaki retained Kalonzo as VP. I think Kibaki, as he tries to move out of the picture, will give Kalonzo more visibility and opportunity to look presidential.

Kalonzo is in good shape.

...
written by Muciimi Mbatia , April 14, 2008

Is it really true that the Meru have been sidelined? Remember that Muthaura was right at the heart of it. Also, there is a disportionate number of Meru technocrats in senior positions. All Kibaki needs to do is retain them, and add a few more.

Midstream, he can do a reshuffle on his side of government, get rid of Michuki who he needs right now, and appoint yough people like Kilemi and Mutava to more senior positions.

The interesting thing is that the National Accord does not give the Prime Minister powers to do a cabinet reshuffle. For Raila to appoint anyone to the cabinet, he has to go and kneel before Kibaki. Kibaki can fire anyone and appoint people from his side and nowhere does it say he has to consult the prime minister if ODM's half of the cabinet is not being touched.

Also, I was only able to count six Kikuyu ministers. Uhuru, Karua, Kimunya, Michuki, Mugo and Mathenge. Saitoti is the Seventh, if you agree he is Kikuyu.

Who are the other Kikuyus that Kibaki appointed that I am missing?

...
written by Anonymous , April 14, 2008

Wanyama,

But what of the Ukambani vote? That is I believe a criminal decision on Kibaki's part. Whoever advises the old man really got that one very wrong. I think everyone in Kenya, including those in the ODM are shocked by Kibaki's betrayal of Kalonzo and a voting bloc that is 13% of the electorate.

Sad that we are back to the ethnic counting, but I guess we are bound to do so since the 42 member cabinet is sold as one that was designed to please everyone.

That said, I disagree with you on the betrayal of the Akamba. They are the real winners here. Having lost the Presidency, they now have a Vice President, 2 ministers (if you count - Kambas - the great CN is one after all) and I count another 5 assistant ministers. A total of 8 posts. All this cost the PNU 3 ministerial posts that could have gone to the real loyalists in Meru and Kisii.

I do agree with you however that it appears the real losers are the Meru who comprise 6% of voters (just under half of kambas) and voted overwhelmingly for President Kibaki. They got 1 Minister and 1 assistant Minister.

I am less clear about the Kisii who are about 6% too but a much smaller number voted for President Kibaki.

Percentages
written by Ndeti , April 14, 2008

Muciimi just look at it in terms of population numbers. Kikuyus make 20% and get 8 posts (including presidency) Kamba get only 2 posts for their 12% (we cannot the Ngilu ones, they did not come from Kibaki). Secondly, Kalonzo does not have a powerful ministry at all. He gave a lot and was given little in return. Unlike other constituencies that did not need to be coaxed into PNU, the Ukambani ones does, ODM recognise that hence their move. Look at Uhuru and Musalia as counterexamples. Jandege, Kamale, it is Ruto and Kones that are Kipsigis, Henry Kosgei is a Nandi elder.

...
written by muciimi mbatia , April 14, 2008

There are six Kikuyu ministers, excluding Kiraitu and Saitoti. Nyaga was appointed by ODM; he is Embu.

I don't think the Kamba came out badly in this government. They constitute 11 percent of the population and they got 3 ministries, including the vice-Presidency, and 5 assistant ministers.

Kalenjins, at 12 percent of the population, got more ministries, but they don't have either a VP or DMP.

In terms of Kalonzo's ODM-K, it managed to get 17 percent of its MPs appointed to the cabinet. That compares well with ODM, which, with 107 Mps, managed to get 18 percent of its MPs into the cabinet.

Do not believe propaganda by ODM meant to drive a wedge in the PNU coalition.

If need be, Kibaki can sacrifice Michuki later in a resuffle and also appoint more Kambas to other government positions. Do not forget the CGS is Kamba as are a number of PSs, appointed without even before ODM-K came into the coalition.

New Day
written by Johnny B. Goode , April 14, 2008

Mbatia, how can Michuki be sacrificed? You forget that apart from ethnicity, there exists regionalism in ethnicity, so Murang'a as represented by John Njoroge Michuki cannot be cast aside by the president at will. Samuel Kahiga wrote an excellent book on the real story of Dedan Kimathi. I don't know how much of it is based on fact but it's a good sturdy in regionalism and how it brought down the mau mau. Besides Michuki is one of those ministers who actually delivers. Sad to see him taken from roads. Good roads btw, are indispensable if we are to move forward as a nation, and thus ODM have a ministry that goes right to the heart of development. The easier sacrificial lambs are Nyeri and Nairobi but than again those 2 ministers are women.

The Kamba really needed an extra ministry as has been pointed above. The country shows an East, West divide and whoever runs on the eastern side will depend heavily on th GEMA-Kamba coalition. The Meru should also have gotten one more minister. I really thought that was why Kibaki was askign for 23 ministers on his side, but guess I was wrong. A man or woman must consider where he is getting his food from. Nyeri or Nairobi could have been more easily ignored to bring in those 2.

I may be wrong but what is ODM thinking giving the ministry of sports to a novice? They have some sportsmen in their ranks like Alfred Sambu. If any ministry needed to be split, then it was te sports ministry, far too important to be bundled with youth. Sports is an important contributing factor to national identity and pride and the sooner we get more people interested in the Kenyan premier league than the English one the better. The sooner we get folks back to Gor and AFC without the stone throwing the better. The sooner we get an local sports industry able to employ a lot of folks the better.

I also doubt very much that Ntimama will be able to bring anything new to the Culture docket. As I have said in the past we need to start formalizing culture. This has an immense number of potential, especially when you think that a number of Kenyans are now living abroad and they won't be able to teach their offspring even the languages. The funny thing is that it is those abroad who are more interested in this matters than local folks. I found out that a lot of relevant books are no longer in print, probably because no one was buying them. You can't even get Kenyattas biography in a shop in Nairobi. Also the more written works we have in the local languages the better. There also the cultureless African Americans who might be interested in learning a local language.

Finally looking at the cabinet, there is a need for the president to be able to look beyond MPs in selecting one. In fact I'd argue the MPs should be excluded totally for the cabinet. We have a disproportionate number of Lawyers heading ministries better headed by engineers, planners, doctors and even historians. Mutula Kilonzo heading the Nairobi metropolitan development docket? Besides the MPs can devote most of their time with the CDF as well as making laws.

The tribal arithmetic is just the reality of a state such as ours. With equally good education everywhere it shouldn't be hard to satisfy qualification as well as ethnic balance.

re: New Dusk
written by aeichener , April 14, 2008

Mbatia, how can Michuki be sacrificed? You forget that apart from ethnicity, there exists regionalism in ethnicity, so Murang'a as represented by John Njoroge Michuki cannot be cast aside by the president at will. (...) Besides Michuki is one of those ministers who actually delivers.

Initially, he did indeed deliver (public transport reform). But as minister of internal insecurity and bloodshed, he was on of the worst failures in the history of independent and colonial Kenya. Some ministers simply are walking liabilities for a president. Michuki has become such a case.

If any ministry needed to be split, then it was te sports ministry, far too important to be bundled with youth.

Note: It was also very important to emancipate wildlife from tourism, and to bundle it now with forestry in one docket, where it truly belongs. A good and circumspect move.

Sports is an important contributing factor to national identity and pride (...) The sooner we get an local sports industry able to employ a lot of folks the better.

Having had contact with the Kenyan Ministry of No Sports recently (namely with its permanent secretary), I can affirm that all the money wasted there on a bloated bureaucracy of sloths, should better be given to foreign sports NGOs who will actually support Kenyan sportswomen and -men.

As I have said in the past we need to start formalizing culture. This has an immense number of potential, especially when you think that a number of Kenyans are now living abroad and they won't be able to teach their offspring even the languages.

Start teaching the primary language in *Kenyan* secondary schools, that is where the education system fails already.

Also the more written works we have in the local languages the better.

Careful, the rabid anti-ethnicist(s) of the website will run after you and brand you an Enemy of The People for this innocuous statement.

There also the cultureless African Americans who might be interested in learning a local language.

Uh, that is not exactly a kind statement, Johnny. There certainly exist cultureless black Americans, but the statement as worded here sounds a bit too offensive for my ears.

The tribal arithmetic is just the reality of a state such as ours.

I am afraid I can not agree with you here. I would rather side with Nyabs' fine statements.

Regards,
Alexander

re: re: New Dusk
written by Johnny B. Goode , April 14, 2008

Start teaching the primary language in *Kenyan* secondary schools, that is where the education system fails already.

Yes. It's possible to teach local languages at the secondary school level as an extended option, just like people learn French or German. Even better is to develop institutions completely devoted to that as well as building up libraries, of historical and contemporary value as well hosting films, plays and a bit of music. If we can get some nice art work out of it the better. This could be some nice big business.

Careful, the rabid anti-ethnicist(s) of the website will run after you and brand you an Enemy of The People for this innocuous statement.

I'm quite well acquainted with them myself. People are too paranoid, in their rabid zest for nationalism as the ultimate solution to all of Kenyas problems.

Uh, that is not exactly a kind statement, Johnny. There certainly exist cultureless black Americans, but the statement as worded here sounds a bit too offensive for my ears.

Well, I don't mean it like that. Without doubt though, the African Americans are people without an indigenous culture. They've done well crafting one for themselves from what is around them, having a huge influence on the music industry and most streams of pop music known. This folks though were not even left with at least a name with which one can do quite a lot if interested to do so. Of course if the initial slaves had somehow recorded something, don't know if they actually did, then that would have helped a lot to. Maybe that's what helped Haley trace Kunta Kinte in the Gambia.

I am afraid I can not agree with you here. I would rather side with Nyabs' fine statements.

It is a reality. One can argue whether it needs to be or not but a reality it most definitely is. All multi party elections so far are more than enough proof of this. So are most cabinets in independent Kenya. They've always had to do some ethnic balancing and if you think Kenya is past this look at Kibakis experience with the Kalenjins and the Merus. Railas experiences with the various factions within the Kalenjins and the Luhyas. It was weird before Ruto stepped aside, that when Raila was asked directly who'd be DPM on his side on K24, he didn't endorse his former running mate Musalia to the hilt. Of course the solution is to create political parties with strong enough ideologies to break the ethnic hold.

re: New Dusk
written by aeichener , April 14, 2008

It is a reality. One can argue whether it needs to be or not but a reality it most definitely is.

Alas, I cannot say you are wrong here. For you probably are not. :-(

Nervertheles, I will side with Kim G and with her animadversion against your statement (voiced in another thread):

Depressing | | 2008-04-14 14:25:35
All this talk of tribal arithmetics is depressing. Whatever happened to competence, merit, talent?

Alexander

...
written by Anonymous , April 15, 2008

Do you all hear yourself intelligent folks going about kipsigis, Gema and what have you. Should you not be TALKING by example since obviously are not leaders. When I think that Kenya has 42 tribes but you are all fixated about Kamba, Luo and Nandi, what does that speak of you. Shame on all of you for sitting there and advocating for tribal representative whereas Kenya has more than all the three that you debate about? What about Kenyan-Indians, Kenyan born Mzungu , Mijikendas, Taita,s Somali Kenyas. All of you are so fake and so ignorant that three tribes are all you debate about.By now I hoped the Kenya Imageine Intellectual would be debating how qualfied and able to do the job is the cabinet not tribal nonsense. I'm greatly disappointed in your arguments here and you are NO BETTER! No wonder all you MIT, Harvards, Yale products are nothing better than the ole' ntimama you wish is demise or retirement. Why not scrutinize the capability not the tribal factor..gggghrrrhhh so sad that we pretend to be better than Kibs or Raila in our reasoning and rationality notwithstanding!!!

Macharia Gaitho\'s Assesment
written by nyabs , April 15, 2008

I don't like this cabinet. More precisely, I don't like the former thieves and warlords who are back in cabinet.

Macharia Gaitho has put it better than I could ever have had.

http://www.nationmedia.com/dai...sid=121200

God help us. The wolves have been set among the sheep.

corruption
written by an , April 15, 2008

What a tough wedding between angoleasing and goldenberg. It required 1000+ kenyans dead and some IDP'S.
How does Ringera continue from here?

re: corruption
written by nyabs , April 15, 2008

What a tough wedding between angoleasing and goldenberg. It required 1000+ kenyans dead and some IDP'S.
How does Ringera continue from here?

Bwahahaha! Haha haha haha! Ringera? Which Ringera?

KACC died a natural death, a long long long time ago.

I am sure when the wolves in cabinet are threatened with Ringera's KACC, they will simply ask: Ringera kitu gani?

arithmetic
written by ezz , April 16, 2008

Back to tribal counting.
[quote-muciimi mbatia] Also, I was only able to count six Kikuyu ministers. Uhuru, Karua, Kimunya, Michuki, Mugo and Mathenge. Saitoti is the Seventh, if you agree he is Kikuyu.

Who are the other Kikuyus that Kibaki appointed that I am missing?
Everybody seems to be forgetting gender balance. If taken into account it means the Kikuyus only get three ministries. Looks like a raw deal to me !

re: corruption
written by a guest , April 16, 2008

What a tough wedding between angoleasing and goldenberg. It required 1000+ kenyans dead and some IDP'S

Brace yourselves, we are about to be economically sodomized by our politicians, without the decency or the benefits of Vaseline.

re: Anonymous
written by mkosakabila , April 16, 2008

By now I hoped the Kenya Imageine Intellectual would be debating how qualfied and able to do the job is the cabinet not tribal nonsense.

Very well said. Just because its the reality of Kenyan politics at this time doesnt mean that we must tolerate dumpster diving. Very depressing for those of us without tribes. Many thanks for your intervention.

ps: its Emilio too.

...
written by aeichener , April 16, 2008

Now now, please. You are not simply a better human being, mkosakabila, just because you do not have (or deny) any ethnic roots.

Alexander

Inverse
written by Savant , April 16, 2008

I don't like this cabinet. More precisely, I don't like the former thieves and warlords who are back in cabinet.

Macharia Gaitho has put it better than I could ever have had.

http://www.nationmedia.com/dai...sid=121200

God help us. The wolves have been set among the sheep.

I totally agree with Macharia's very astute sentiments. Bwana/Bibi, your compulsion to take yourself seriously is duly noted.

The cabinet is rotten. Start with the aggrandizing Kibaki, who clearly worked 'very hard' for his prime farms and ranches land, residential and commercial property. And let us not forget the legendary 'entrepreneur', Michuki. In his heyday as head honcho at KCB he parlayed that title into mega-riches.

And who could possibly forget the very 'industrious' and 'hard working' Kenyatta's. It is a travesty that the Kenyatta's own only one-third of Taita-Taveta.

Now you know.

arithmetic correction
written by ezz , April 16, 2008

Back to tribal counting.

Also, I was only able to count six Kikuyu ministers. Uhuru, Karua, Kimunya, Michuki, Mugo and Mathenge. Saitoti is the Seventh, if you agree he is Kikuyu.

Who are the other Kikuyus that Kibaki appointed that I am missing?

Everybody seems to be forgetting gender balance. If taken into account it means the Kikuyus only get three ministries. Looks like a raw deal to me !

hello?
written by Stephen Wanyama , April 16, 2008

Why not count the President himself? You do count the Vice President when counting Ukambani representation do you not?

hello?
written by ezz , April 16, 2008

The President is not a ministry and was not appointed by Kibaki! Even if counted four is still a raw deal.

think big
written by Stephen Wanyama , April 16, 2008

You sound a bit like an idiot, so I will stop here. Just think this is supposed to be a power-sharing agreement? Do you understand that part? Power-sharing, healing, get it now? There are 8 Gikuyu representatives in the Cabinet, there is only one Meru. Part of the nation-building effort involves not taking the political support of constituencies in this country for granted. Do you get it now? Part of the entire reason for the post-election crisis is the fact that sections of the population were told that they had been marginalised and betrayed and taken for granted.

We may not agree with the spirit that insists that the Cabinet must be constituted with sensitivity to ethnic representation, but the fact that we are even now engaged in nation-building, in a nation where political mobilisation is largely ethnic, and where politicians love to play victim (think Luo 'marginalisation' - since independence or Gikuyu 'marginalisation' -during the Moi years, insists that we pay attention, more than the usual attention.

re: think differentiated
written by aeichener , April 16, 2008

We may not agree with the spirit that insists that the Cabinet must be constituted with sensitivity to ethnic representation

That is what a Senate or a First House of Parliament would be designed for.

Alexander

think big
written by ezz , April 16, 2008

You sound a bit like an idiot,...

A bit too strong I would think.

Expected you of all people to appreciate a little banter, especially given all the contributions above. Please take a nap and read the stuff again when refreshed.

hello
written by Stephen Wanyama , April 17, 2008

Alex, seeing as Kenya can hardly afford that expense, that of a higher house, and also considering the fact that Ministries are in all truth run by Permanent Secretaries ( a good minister will most of the time simply get out of the way of the administrative officials and experts and use his clout to help them succeed ), then the Cabinet does in many ways function as this upper House would. I do not think it is asking for too much that the people of Eastern Province are given a more respectable portion of the new Cabinet.

Ezz, my apologies for the insult. I do think your attempt to make out that the Gikuyu have a mere 3 ministries is offensive. I will now retire and contemplate tomorrow's exertions.

Tribal Politics Correction
written by Johnny B. Goode , April 17, 2008

2nd of course while a minister is a national representative, he can at least look out that his area is not unduly dis-advantaged when it comes to apportioning national resources.

That's what I meant.

Tribal Politics
written by Johnny B. Goode , April 24, 2008

LOL, I like the idealism but Kenya for better or worse is stuck in a tribal quagmire. We are even lucky we only have 45 or to be more accurate 15 or so that make up the vast majority. Just GEMA, Kamba, Kalenjin, Luhya and Luo make up 80% of the population. Include the Kisii and you are almost at 90%. Imagine if we were like Nigeria with 100s of tribes. Look at the number of opportunists running around pissed because they did not get a cabinet post. Now they want to form the opposition so that they stay relevant. And people were talking of a lean cabinet, what a joke. Clearly ODM must have been joking with the number 34 otherwise the likes of Ababu Namwamba (that kid who insulted the head of state. I wonder how he feels about Raila right now) wouldn't be so enraged right now at being passed over when the goodies were being handed out.

Kenya is truly a banana republic. Where else do you have members of the same political party forming both government and official opposition. Ridiculous. Of course opposition within the ranks is tradition but when you decide to go to become the official opposition then one should vacate the party and form another party.

And people want to play down ethnic balancing, like we are oh so sophisticated. There's really nothing wrong with it, just like there is nothing wrong with all the other balancing that go on around, especially in a case where everyone is more or less qualified.

Really Kenyan politics revolves around two things. We'll give you our votes but we expect to be rewarded. Those rewards come in two form, appointments cabinet or otherwise and some form of development. It's true that a ministerial appointment or other appointments probably won't add any sufurias or nyungus to any given household but it does contribute some sort of feel good factor.

2nd of course while a minister is a national representative, he can at least look out that his area is not unduly advantaged when it comes to apportioning national resources. The only problem in Kenya is that people given such posts think it's their time to eat and end up doing nothing meaningful for anyone.

I have argued on this very pages that with the CDF, the need to produce a president in order to see maendeleo has become less. Expand that and that money is building everything that a given community needs, things get much better. For what does any given community X need? Not much.

1. Good infrastructure (roads, rail)
2. Schools
3. Hospitals or health centres
4. Services, water and electricity
5. Shopping centre, integrating entertainment, shopping and other commercial and social needs

I may have forgotten a thing or two but that is essentially it. Not much as youn see. The commercial and social centre can will be built through private initiative, the rest can be done through CDF, and thus the President and the ministers and all that structure becomes irrelevant,. They just have to see that money gets to each given constituency and that it is being put to good use.

The road minister will thus not be concerned with getting funds to increase the network in constituency A or B but with national highways and railway linking all those constituencies.

...
written by vasmar kitie , May 05, 2008

this is a good cabinet.But I really worry about the future of Kenya all the taxes we are paying will go to the salaries of these ministers. What will wananchi benefit? The best way to deal with this is to reduce ministerial and parliamentary salaries by 15%. This will reduce pressure on public spending and allow the economy to improve.

BACKWARD
written by dr.phil , May 05, 2008

This arrangement in Kenya, rewarding cabinet ministries to tribal chieftains is not only primitive but causes a lot of unnecessary trouble for the country. The country which is already poor has spent billions of shillings to meet the high wage bill, and on the other hand the cabinet gets filled with many mediocre characters who only befit being village headmen.
It would perhaps be wiser for the country to adopt a constitutional arrangement by which politicians are confined to parliament, and the President is free to appoint experienced people from the private sector as well as the civil service. This would rid the cabinet of tribal chieftains and enhance the quality of governance.

IT IS SAD
written by dr.phil , May 05, 2008

No wonder Africans are potrayed as damn in the west,we are damn indeed.Our politicians do not care when they hurt the whole country just for cabinet positions.Kenya has if am not wrong top ten of the most retarded class of politicians in the world.
Instead of their being a debate on how to develop the country,the focus is on what tribe got a raw deal in cabinet appointments or raw deal in getting less significant ministry.Right thinking Kenyan people should unite and say to hell with these retards,am sure the parliament floor is always filled with drool during the afternoon sessions.

re: IT IS SAD
written by aeichener , May 05, 2008

Kenya has if I am not wrong top ten of the most retarded class of politicians in the world.

There are *some* good politicians in Kenya, though far and few between.

But many of those few were NOT re-elected by the Wise And Majestic People, who preferred corrupt moneybags or who simply opted in favour of change for mere change's sake, irrespective of whether the old incumbent had worked diligently for them or not.

Alexander