It is late in the day to make any meaningful comment of the Grand Regency Saga that cost the Finance Minister his job and his credibility. Questions abound as to who the real faces behind Amos Kimunya are with some analysts saying the President could be a/the beneficiary. We await what (another! sigh!) Commission of Inquiry will recommend as we also wait for the implementation of 10 other Commission of Inquiry reports. Meanwhile the heat is being turned on the Central Bank Governor, the Attorney General and the Ministry of Lands.

It’s been reported that the Lybians funded the PNU campaign to the tune of Kshs. 5 billion. For a political party that was cobbled up three months before the elections ,it was understandable that a quick source of funds was required to match the long term fund raising their arch-rivals, ODM, had engaged in. No wonder PNU’s spending was astronomical and reports of those who had access to the funds displaying exponential increase in wealth and lavish living.

ODM could have easily take the cue and used this opportunity to bring down Amos Kimunya in their quest to frustrate the PNU. It can be posited that they won this battle. But the war ahead is bigger. Otieno Kajwang, the Immigration Minister is under fire for giving work permits to welders and foremen, jobs that can be done by Kenyans according to his Permanent Secretary who doubles up as his chief Technical Advisor. But Kajwang’s case may not be big. The minister who should watch out is William Ruto. He is the most exposed ODM minister….exposed in that the unconfirmed allegations as to the extent of his involvement in the post-election violence in Rift Valley, still hovers around him. PNU may be sharpening their knives to make a stab at him. The stature of KImunya can only be matched by William Ruto. Both are second tier leaders in their respective parties after the top tier of the President and his Deputy, and the Prime Minister and his two deputies.

 

Martha Karua, PNU’s most brilliant mind and defender, did not stand by Kimunya. Martha is relatively clean in Kenyan politics and following her declaration to succeed Kibaki as the 4th President of Kenya, she may want to steer clear of any tainted individuals. Central Province succession politics will pit those who have illegally acquired their wealth (Uhuru etc) with those who have worked for the little they have (Martha etc).

 

The Finance MInister in Kenya has immense powers in managing the Exchequer. Virtually everyone who has been Finance MInister has put his hand in the till. I do not expect an end to corruption in the ministry. In fact, with Kibaki’s cronies (Transcentury et al) facing only four more years to increase and consolidate their wealth, the next Finance MInister can only be someone “friendly” to their cause. That’s why John Michuki is acting as we await the final confirmation of who will be minister. Since it is important , nay, unavoidable,that Kenya has a Finance Minister at any given time, top contenders for this seat include Peter Kenneth, former Assistant MInister for Finance and some good credentials with related tasks (except KFF) or John Michuki himself. In the spirit of portfolio balance, it will be PNU’s call to nominate for this office. It may also remain in Central Province.

Parliament is truly asserting its role and playing watchdog on behalf of Kenyans quite well. But some loop holes emerged even as they hounded Kimunya out of office. Parliament should have tasked the Parliamentary Committee on Finance to quickly carry out an audit and use this report to nail Kimunya. The Public Accounts Committee under Uhuru’s Chairmanship in 2006 did a brilliant report on the Artur brothers assisted by some of the most brilliant legal minds in the country.

Some of the members of the watchdog committees are the most tainted MPs in history. George Thuo is a member of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee. He joined Palriament against the backdrop of running down the Kenya Bus Service. Cyrus Jirongo, Ephraim Maina and Sammy Mwaita are members of the Public Investments Committee but don’t be shocked if they are adversely mentioned in their own committee reports. Cyrus was a master swindler in the 90’s after his Youth for Kanu ‘92 tenure and construction projects where he conned the NSSF; Ephraim Maina of KIrinyaga Construction has reportedly carried out shoddy work and canvassed for jobs through his links; Sammy Mwaita was a former Commissioner of Lands where he approved irregularly on many occassions. Parliament is about to approve the new Standing Orders. I hope one of the recommendations will be to bar tainted MPs from sitting in Parliamentary Committees.