Listen Kibaki named Charity Kaluki Ngilu the Minister for Health, Martha Wangari Karua as Minister for Water Resources Management and Development, and Linah Jebii Kilimo as Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President. Also appointed were environmentalist Wangari Maathai as Assistant Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife, Beth Mugo as Assistant […]
Kibaki Cabinet
Kipruto Arap Kirwa – Minister who transformed agriculture
Listen Appointed to the critical Agriculture docket when the farming sector was at its lowest ebb – and in the dispensation of a President who gave his ministers a free hand to apply themselves – Kirwa soon gave farmers a reason to go back to the soil. Agriculture was the backbone of the country’s economy […]
Mohamed Mohamud – Teacher who took on Muthaura
Listen In the race for the parliamentary seat, Mohamud vied on a Kenya African National Union (KANU) party ticket and beat opponents from six Opposition parties – FORD-Asili, Safina, Kenya Social Congress, Social Democratic Party, Democratic Party and National Development Party. Mohamud became the sixth MP for Wajir East, with KANU winning three out of […]
Kiraitu Murungi – Kibaki’s judicial surgeon
Listen Murungi’s biggest selling point as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs was most certainly his illustrious legal career and specialisation in constitutional law. In addition, he was a man of the people who had endeared himself to the masses through his legal practice and initiation of a number of pro-people development projects. A key […]
Karisa Maitha – The coastal hurricane
Listen From humble beginnings in his native Mombasa County where he was born in 1954, Karisa rose from a dedicated Clinical Officer to a leader of note and a Cabinet Minister, packing a full life and career into the 50 years that turned out to be his lifespan. Historically, leaders who are larger than life […]
Kijana Wamalwa – The master orator
Listen Wamalwa, the son a former senator, was the eighth Vice President of the Republic of Kenya and the first of three vice presidents who served in Kibaki’s two-term presidency. His ascent to the vice presidency was occasioned by the historic victory of the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) in the 2002 General Election. His charisma […]
John Michuki – The man in a hurry
Listen He was one man in a hurry to help the newly-elected President reverse the economic decline and indiscipline that had taken over the transport industry. At the time, most public taxis (known as matatus) in Kenya operated under the Matatu Owners Association, which had replaced the Matatu Vehicle Owners Association formed in 1982 to […]
John Katuku – Strategist at the right place at the right time
Listen As it turned out, Katuku was a beneficiary of a rebellion within the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) that had swept into power in 2002 with Kibaki as the presidential flag bearer. After forming his first Cabinet, President Kibaki’s government set about backing a referendum on changing the Constitution of Kenya. However, a disgruntled group […]
James Orengo – The indefatigable soldier
Listen Only he knows his next move. But undoubtedly, he’s the swashbuckler of current Kenyan politics — daring and in a hurry to tackle the powerful and the mighty, and rarely shying away from divisive matters, such as impeaching the President or Cabinet members. This has been his fodder for 40 years. And this explains […]
Jebii Kilimo – A model servant leader
Listen Linah Jebii Kilimo recalls that teacher well — the one who introduced the aspirations and hopes that changed the course of her life. She was just a Class 4 pupil at the time, but the impact has endured. “He would tell us stories of uncircumcised, educated women who lived in a big city called […]