PROVINCIAL SHAKEUP INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN KIBAKI'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 000946 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2026 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KE SUBJECT: PROVINCIAL SHAKEUP INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN KIBAKI'S GRIP REF: NAIROBI 837 Classified By: A/PolCouns L. Peterson for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: A February 27 shakeup of provincial commissioners is a thinly veiled move by the Kibaki administration to tighten its grip on key elements within the civil service. By disposing of a number of Moi-era civil servants and promoting a new guard, the government seems poised to ensure loyalty among the individuals who serve as the key connection between the central government and the provinces. Ironically, the government championed a draft constitution that would have completely removed the post of provincial commissioner, in an effort to devolve power to local level government. Now facing mounting criticism - and broad-based ethnic and regional mistrust - the government is reverting to the tools of the previous regime to ensure loyalty in the hinterland. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The Kibaki administration announced on February 27 a reshuffling of the country's eight provincial commissioners (PCs). (NOTE: Provincial commissioners serve as representatives of the President in their areas of jurisdiction and generally coordinate critical government activities in those areas. Under the Moi regime, the provincial administrations were significantly strengthened, making them key players in government business and ensuring a direct reporting chain between the central government and the provinces. END NOTE.) This move is widely regarded as an attempt by the Kibaki administration to consolidate top civil service positions in the hands of loyal supporters. Five PCs who were either retired or transferred in the reshuffle were inherited Moi-era appointees associated with KANU, now the official opposition party. ¶3. (C) Of the five new PCs (elevated former district commissioners) three are from the GEMA tribes of the Mt. Kenya region, which is closely associated with the Kibaki administration. The other two new appointees and the remaining three incumbents represent diverse regions of Kenya, a move which may have been designed to counter criticism of tribalism in the appointments. Regardless of their tribal affiliation, the new appointees are presumed to be first and foremost loyal supporters of Kibaki,s administration. One press report indicated that four of the five newcomers have paramilitary training in their backgrounds. ¶4. (C) The move to strengthen the provincial administration through the appointment of Kibaki strongmen flies in the face of an earlier NARC promise to devolve government to the district level. The proposed new constitution would have done away altogether with the provincial-level administration in favor of the district-level, where district administrators would have been elected rather than appointed. ¶5. (C) Follow-on shuffles among district administrators and chiefs are expected as part of an overall re-alignment plan. As many as 2,000 out of 6,000 chiefs are rumored to be under consideration for replacement. The stated reason for this massive change is to enhance service delivery in the provinces. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: The move to stack the provincial level civil service with Kibaki loyalists appears to be yet another move by the beleaguered government to solidify its control (see Reftel). Having been defeated in the constitutional referendum in all provinces except predominantly Kikuyu Central, Kibaki's advisors have surely assessed that they must reclaim support in the other provinces if they are to have any hope of winning the 2007 elections. Drawing on Moi's model, the government will use its new crop of PCs to reclaim lost territory. END COMMENT. BELLAMY