By Standard Team
President Kibaki and Prime minister Raila Odinga struck like thunder, booting the two Cabinet ministers they perceive disloyal and of little value to their larger political interests.
They at the same time each brought into Cabinet a new minister they feel they can trust to push their political agenda, act in their interest, and where possible compromise for their sake, not just reading out the law as they think it ought to be done.
For President Kibaki the target was Mr Mutula Kilonzo, one of the countryâs top legal minds and the most outspoken backer of The Hague process, who now moves to unfamiliar territory â Ministry of Education. Newly appointed tourism Minister Danson Mwazo [Photo:Standard]
Replacing the man who has contradicted both the President and Vice President Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, who anyway has been under pressure in Wiper Democratic Movement on whose ticket he joined Cabinet, was a surprise pick from Western Kenya. Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, perceived to be Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyattaâs choice for running mate and a brother to one of Kibakiâs former top political backers, late Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa, takes over from Mutula.
Under President Kibaki, Kenya gets its fourth Justice minister in Wamalwa. The first was Mr Kiraitu Murungi, who stumbled from one political controversy to another until he was forced to step aside because of the Anglo Leasing scandal and he only came back after being cleared.
The second was Gichugu MP Martha Karua, who started off as one of Kibakiâs most fierce supporters but left Cabinet bitter and frustrated, and is now one of his most vicious critics.
After Karua came Mutula, who quickly became unpopular because of how the spoke of the ICC trials and Kenyaâs obligations to the Rome Statute for which it is a signatory.
Now the country waits to see how Wamalwa will navigate the tricky waters that have made the portfolio one of the hottest potatoes in the country.
Uhuru also seemed to have had another string of luck in the changes if not his advisory hand in it as one of his most vocal defenders from Central Kenya, Mr Jamleck Kamau, took over the Nairobi Metropolitan Ministry.
