KENYA: TWO CORRUPTION-TAINTED MINISTERS REAPPOINTED

UNCLAS NAIROBI 005003 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL KCOR KE SUBJECT: KENYA: TWO CORRUPTION-TAINTED MINISTERS REAPPOINTED REF: NAIROBI 661 This message is sensitive but unclassified, please handle accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Kibaki filled a dozen cabinet seats on November 15, bringing back into government two ministers who had earlier this year resigned over their implication in massive corruption scandals. One, reinstated Education Minister George Saitoti, was earlier exonerated in a dubious court decision of any wrongdoing in the Goldenberg scandal. The other, reinstated Finance Minister David Mwiraria, remains under a cloud for his role in covering up the more recent Anglo-Leasing scams. Kibaki's new assignments signal that he is consolidating his support looking ahead to next year's elections. END SUMMARY. THEY'RE BACK -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On November 15, the Government of Kenya announced a dozen minister and assistant minister-level appointments, including the reinstatement of two ministers who had resigned in February following their implication in massive corruption scandals. Education Minister George Saitoti and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi, who resigned under pressure on February 13, were returned to their former offices, while 10 assistant-ministers were named. This round of appointments fills many of the seats left vacant first by nominees who refused to take their assignments last December in protest against the way Kibaki made the selections, and later by corruption-related resignations. ¶3. (SBU) Saitoti's and Murungi's resignations under pressure in February were welcomed as an indication that President Kibaki was finally taking action against some of the most corrupt officials in his administration. On July 31, however, Saitoti was cleared of any fault in the massive Goldenberg scam by the Kenyan High Court. Although his exoneration was questionable (even the Attorney General decried the unhelpful precedent it set),Saitoti's reputation as Education Minister was of a capable administrator who is credited with the success of the free primary education program. Murungi's role in the Anglo-Leasing scam, as revealed in the report compiled by former anti-corruption czar John Githongo, was to cover for others - bad enough for any minister, but especially the Justice Minister (which he was at the time). No prosecutorial action has been taken �0A;against him, nor against the perpetrators of Anglo-Leasing. KIBAKI'S CHOICES SAY A LOT -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Kibaki's new cabinet appointments cast a wide geographic and ethnic net, including Maasai (Saitoti and Katoo Ole Metito) and new NARC-Kenya MPs from northern Kenya (also a reward for their strong showing in July's by-elections). His selection of two Meru MPs (Murungi and Peter Munya) was in response to that community's threat to withdraw its support for Kibaki if its MPs did not get their due. The President also raised opposition hackles by selecting three KANU MPs as assistant ministers -- more government "poaching." ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: After an extended bad patch - between November 2005's referendum defeat, February's public exposure of massive corruption scandals, and the Standard raids in March - the President is trying to turn things around. Following closely on his publicly well-received October 20 Kenyatta Day speech, in which he enumerated his government's accomplishments, the new cabinet appointments indicate Kibaki is seeking to consolidate his political support base, both in Parliament for the last year of this administration, and looking ahead to the 2007 elections. As the Ambassador stated in his November 21 speech, these appointments at best send conflicting and inconsistent signals in the fight against corruption. END COMMENT. ¶5. (U) Cabinet as of November 16, 2006. (( )) indicates November 15 appointment. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT ¶1. VICE PRESIDENT & MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS: HON. MOODY AWORI (LDP) a. MINISTER OF STATE FOR PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY: HON. JOHN N. MICHUKI (NAK) ((Assistant Minister for Internal Security: HON. PETER MUNYA (Safina) )) Assistant Minister for Provincial Administration: HON. JOSEPH KINGI (NAK) b. MINISTER OF STATE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE: HON. MOSES AKARANGA (NAK) Assistant Minister: HON. BONIFACE MGHANGA (KANU) c. MINISTER OF STATE FOR IMMIGRATION & REGISTRATION OF PERSONS: HON. GIDEON KONCHELAH (LDP) Assistant Minister: HON. ANANIAH MWABOZA (NLP) d. MINISTER OF STATE FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS: HON. JOHN MUNYES (NARC) Assistant Minister: HON. WARIO ALI (KANU) ¶2. OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT a. MINISTER OF STATE FOR NATIONAL HERITAGE: HON. SULEIMAN SHAKOMBO (LDP) (( Assistant Minister for Home Affairs: HON. HUSSEIN MAALIM MOHAMED (KANU) )) b. MINISTER OF STATE FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS: HON. MOHAMED KUTI (( Assistant Minister: HON. KATOO ole METITO (NAK) )) ¶3. MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT: HON. MUSIKARI N. KOMBO (FORD-K) Assistant Minister for Urban Authorities: HON. ISHAK SHAABAN (KANU) (( Assistant Minister for County Councils: HON. MUCHIRI GACHARA (NAK) )) ¶4. MINISTER FOR FINANCE: HON. AMOS KIMUNYA (NAK) Assistant Minister for Monetary, Fiscal & Investment Affairs: HON. PETER KENNETH (LDP) Assistant Minister for Financial Management Affairs: VACANT ¶5. MINISTER FOR HEALTH: HON. CHARITY NGILU (NAK) Assistant Minister Medical Services: HON. DR. WILFRED MACHAGE (LDP) Assistant Minister for Public Health: HON. DR. ENOCH KIBUNGUCHY (FORD K) ¶6. MINISTER FOR ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS: HON. SIMEON NYACHAE (FORD-P) Assistant Minister Roads: HON. JOSHUA TORO (NAK) (( Assistant Minister Public Works: HON. HUSSEIN SASURA (NAK) )) (( 7. MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: HON. PROF. GEORGE SAITOTI (LDP) )) Assistant Minister for Basic Education: HON. MRS. BETH MUGO (NAK) Assistant Minister for Higher Education: HON. KILEMI MWIRIA (NAK) ¶8. MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE: HON. KIPRUTO ARAP KIRWA (NAK) Assistant Minister for Research & Extension Services: HON. PETER KAINDI (NAK) (( Assistant Minister for Production and Marketing: HON. PATRICK MUIRURI (NAK) )) ¶9. MINISTER FOR LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT: HON. JOSEPH MUNYAO (NAK) Assistant Minister for Livestock Development: VACANT Assistant Minister for Fisheries Development: HON. ABU CHIABA (KANU) ¶10. MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS: HON. MARTHA KARUA (NAK) Assistant Minister: VACANT ¶11. MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: HON. RAPHAEL TUJU (PPP) Assistant Minister for International Affairs: HON. MOSES WETANGULA (FORD-K) ((Assistant Minister for African Affairs: HON. KEMBI GITURA (NAK) )) ¶12. MINISTER FOR EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY: HON. JOHN KOECH (KANU) Assistant Minister: HON. DR. BONNY KHALWAE (FORD-K) ¶13. MINISTER FOR GENDER, SPORTS, CULTURE AND SOCIAL SERVICES: HON. MAINA KAMANDA (NAK) Assistant Minister for Gender and Social Services: HON. ALICEN CHELAITE (NAK) Assistant Minister for Sports: HON. J.O. ONYANCHAH (FORD-P) ¶14. MINISTER FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS: HON. MUTAHI KAGWE (NAK) Assistant Minister for Information: HON. KOIGI WA WAMWERE (NAK) Assistant Minister for Communications: HON. DAVID WERE (FORD-P) ¶15. MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT: HON. CHIRAU ALI MWAKWERE (LDP) Assistant Minister for Port, Rail and Road Transport: HON. NJERU GITHAE (NAK) Assistant Minister for Civil Aviation and Meteorology: HON. CECILE MBARIRE (NAK) ¶16. MINISTER FOR WATER: HON. MUTUA KATUKU (NAK) Assistant Minister for Water Resource Management: HON. RAPHAEL WANJALA (FORD-K) Assistant Minister for Water Services: HON. MAJOR (Rtd.) A. ¶A. SUGOW (KANU) ¶17. MINISTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES: HON. ABDI MOHAMED (KANU) Assistant Minister: HON. TITUS NGOYONI (KANU) (( 18. MINISTER FOR ENERGY: HON. KIRAITU MURUNGI (NAK) )) Assistant Minister for Petroleum Energy: VACANT Assistant Minister for Electricity: HON. MWANGI KIUNJURI (NAK) ¶19. MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY: HON. DR. MUKHISA KITUYI (FORD-K) Assistant Minister for Trade: HON. ABDIRAHMAN ALI HASSAN (KANU) Assistant Minister for Industry: HON. PETKAY MIRITI (NAK) ¶20. MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND WILDLIFE: HON. MORRIS DZORO (NAK) Assistant Minister for Tourism: HON. RAPHAEL MURIUNGI (NAK) Assistant Minister for Wildlife: HON. KALEMBE NDILE (NAK) ¶21. MINISTER FOR LANDS: (ACTING) HON. PROF. KIVUTHA KIBWANA (NAK) Assistant Minister for Lands: HON. ASMAN. A. KAMAMA (FORD-A) ¶22. MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES: HON. PROF. KIVUTHAKIBWANA (NPK) (( Assistant Minister for Environment: HON. JAYNE KIHARA (NAK) )) Assistant Minister for Natural Resources: VACANT ¶23. MINISTER FOR LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT: HON. DR. NEWTON KULUNDU (FORD-K) Assistant Minister for Labor Relations: HON. SAMMY LESHORE (KANU) Assistant Minister for Manpower Management: HON. ADELINA MWAU (NPK) ¶24. MINISTER FOR CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING: HON. PETER N. NDWIGA (NAK) Assistant Minister for Agricultural sector: VACANT Assistant Minister for Service sector: HON. DAVID MWENJE (NAK) ¶25. MINISTER FOR PLANNING & NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: HON. HENRY OBWOCHA (FORD-P) Assistant Minister for Planning: HON. DAVID EKWEE ETHURO (LDP) Assistant Minister for National Development: HON. JOHN SERUT (KANU) ¶26. STATE LAW OFFICE: Attorney General: HON. AMOS WAKO ¶27. MINISTER FOR DEFENSE: HON. NJENGA KARUME (KANU) ((Assistant Minister: HON. STEPHEN TARUS (MAK) )) ¶28. MINISTER FOR HOUSING: HON. SOITA SHITANDA (FORD K) Assistant Minister: HON. BETTY TETT (DP) ¶29. MINISTER FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: DR. NOAH WEKESA (FORD-K) (( Assistant Minister: UKUR YATTANI (NARC-KENYA) )) RANNEBERGER