Mixed bag of fortunes for Uhuru CSs

The recent sudden political about-turn by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s former political advisor, Mutahi Ngunyi, has elicited fresh interest in what some of the former Head of State’s allies are up to one year since the August election ushered in a new administration.

Revelations that some of the Cabinet Secretaries who served in the Kenyatta government have joined the private sector illustrates that lucrative corporate engagements remain on the cards for former senior State officers who chalked up valuable experience in the public sector and who built networks in the world of business.

For some, however, quiet private life is the best gift they have bequethed themselves. And, as one time permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo once famously said, for many of them, their phones have stopped ringing incessantly.

It has been a long journey for all of them, though. As Uhuru’s second term inched closer to its tail end in the run-up to the August 2022 general election, a number of the then Cabinet Secretaries began preparing their handover notes ahead of the anticipated transition although the election may not necessarily have turned out as they had anticipated.

After the polls, and before President Ruto announced his own CSs, he retained all members of the Uhuru Cabinet even as some started scaling down their operations and withdrawing from the public arena. When he finally announced his Cabinet in November, Ruto retained some — among them Simon Chelugui, who served under President Uhuru. Chelugui had been CS for Labour and Welfare but President Ruto took him to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, where he is still serving to date.

Monica Juma, formerly in charge of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, was retained to serve as President Ruto’s advisor on national security.

Another CS, Adan Mohamed, unsuccessfully bid for Mandera governorship, making the unlikely transition, first from the corner office of a multi-national bank — Barclays — to the Cabinet and eventually making a foray into the murky world of local politics. In the end, he found a soft landing when the new administration picked him to sit in the powerful Economic Council alongside insiders such as David Ndii. Before the August 2022 election, Mohamed had served as CS for East African Community.

The then long-serving Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Joseph Kinyua, also transitioned into the new administration in the same role. When his successor, Felix Koskei finally settled into the role, Kinyua made a quiet exit only to re-emerge in the news in May this year when he was elected board chair of the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Group, a move which spoke of his close relations with the government of the day.

He closed the list of CS who remained in government after the change of guard one year ago. All the others retreated to their private businesses or joined the private sector either at home or abroad. Only outliers like former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa and former Agriculture CS Peter Munya joined the opposition trenches, where they are still active players in Azimio la Umoja rallies and protests.
From the entire Cabinet of 22, only two, John Munyes and Charles Keter, could not be reached for comment and, as a result, People Daily could not authoritatively ascertain their whereabouts or what they do for a living.

Sicily Kariuki
The immediate former Water and Sanitation CS describes herself as a servant of the community. She told PD that she dedicates her time and experience in the service of Kenyans. After failing in her bid for the Nyandarua governorship a year ago, Kariuki first returned to class to pursue a diploma in executive leadership. She later earned another diploma in emotional intelligence practice.
She is currently engaged in private consultancy in policy strategy, management, design and execution as well as leadership development. Some of her clients include Harvard University and University of Cape Town. “I am just at peace and relaxed. At times I look back and wonder how I managed to survive in those places with high voltage politics,” she told People Daily.

Margaret Kobia
Former Public Service CS Margaret Kobia went back into academia. Besides serving as Chancellor of St Paul’s University, she is also one of the trustees of the University of Nairobi Foundation.

Joe Mucheru
After his term as ICT CS lapsed a year ago, Mucheru first retreated to a quiet private life before he was appointed President of Jumo, a London based tech company.
“The only difference I find is that my phone hardly rings as it used to when I was in government,” he said. “All the same, I am very busy in whatever I am doing.”

Keriako Tobiko
The former Director of Public Prosecutions served in the Uhuru Cabinet as Environment and Forestry CS. He had an antagonistic relationship with the then Deputy President, who is now a tenant at State House. After the last Cabinet meeting in November 2022, he retreated to his legal profession, opening an office on Ngong Road, Nairobi, where he offers legal consultancy services.
Ukur Yattani
The former Treasury CS switched to farming, charity work and consultancy in accounts. When People Daily contacted him recently, he said he now enjoys the privileges in private life away from public limelight. “Now I drive myself any time to where I want. People who used to call me for favours have reduced significantly.”
Fred Matiang’i
The former powerful Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has gone back to his former job at the State University of New York (SUNY), mainly operating from his house in Karen. He occasionally travels to New York for work related engagements.
He has, however, kept a low profile since February when he made a not so rosy return to the limelight with claims that police officers had raided his house.
Peter Munya
The former Agriculture CS is currently still in active opposition politics. He has been championing the Azimio agenda in the Mount Kenya region alongside other Azimio politicians. “Politics is part of life and without people shaping their politics, everything will be in disarray,” he said. “So far, I can say we have done quite a commendable job to keep the government in control”.
Najib Balala
The former CS for Tourism, serves at the international wildlife conservation charity, Fauna and Flora International (FFI) as one of its vice presidents, a position he took up in November. “I have taken a break from politics to concentrate on my international job that is very demanding,” he said. “I travel a lot. Unlike during my tenure when I only dealt with issues pertaining to Kenya, I am now handling global issues.
Farida Karoney
The former Lands CS, who before scaling up to Agriculture docket was Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Media Services, went back to class to complete her PhD at Moi University, Eldoret. She also offers consultancy in media and communications.
Eugene Wamalwa
Like Munya, the former Defence CS, Wamalwa went back to active politics, aligning himself with Azimio leader Raila Odinga. Wamalwa has, however, taken a low profile since Azimio called off its weekly protests over the cost of living.
Raphael Tuju
Tuju says he is busy running his private businesses and has no time for politicking.
“A new transition came into place and we have to accept and move on,” he said.
He is involved in real estate, the hospitality industry and communications businesses but also dabbles in consultancy.
James Macharia
The former career banker and powerful Roads and Transport CS is now in private practice, dealing with banking and financial services from his office in Lavington, Nairobi. “All I can tell Kenyans is that I am enjoying and at peace with myself. I have nothing to complain about,” he said.
Betty Maina
The former Industrialisation CS said she engages in consultancy work on leadership, governance and management.
Rachel Omamo
After serving in various dockets, including as Defence and later Foreign Affairs CS, Omamo is now a director at Mo-Consulty Ltd, a company that deals in legal services.
Mutahi Kagwe
After being in the limelight as a Health CS at the height of Covid-19 crisis, Kagwe retreated to private life after the August election. He runs a public relations firm, Tell-Em and a research agency, TNS RMS East Africa. He is also involved in managing family business ventures.
“I came from the private sector when I joined politics and therefore, I went back to private sector. Whatever I am doing is my personal business,” he said.