It has been a career of twists and turns for Ringera

By Standard on Sunday reporter

Justice Aaron Ringera is man of measured words who like to maintain studious silence. This contrasts sharply with the storm and fever pitch drama that revolves around his high profile posting.

In the same fashion his appointment to the Sh2.5 million-a-month job in August 2004 drew heated debate and rage, his re-appointment by President Kibaki to the directorship of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) is the hot potato of the moment.

In each instance, his fate has been in the hands of politicians with a key figure pushing his case. In 2004, it was the Government Chief Whip Norman Nyagah who did the trick.

Now the challenge largely rests in the hands of Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo.

Five years ago, Nyagah worked overdrive to lobby the 222 MPs to raise the required numbers that eventually saw the confirmation of Ringera as KACC director.

Then, as is now, the question of Ringera’s capabilities was not on card. He faced a hostile House — courtesy of differences between Liberal Development Party and National Alliance Party of Kenya wings of the National Rainbow Coalition Government — as members wanted to grab the opportunity to settle political scores.

Fronted by the then Justice Minister Kiraitu Murungi, Ringera was viewed as a candidate of the NAK wing allied to President Kibaki. Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi was thought to be elevating his former partner at the then Kamau Kuria, Kiraitu and Ringera Advocates firm. Nonetheless, Nyagah succeeded to push through his candidate — thanks to "tribal arithmetic" that came into play during the vote. There was also help from MPs from Uhuru Kenyatta’s Kanu party, who were largely taking advantage of emerging rifts in Government to exhibit their political might.

This time around, Mutula holds the all-important key to Ringera’s return to office, and as in 2004, Ringera is perceived to be on the side of the powers-that-be. Although the President has already gazetted his re-appointment, the Justice Minister is engrossed in legal battles and public outrage to ward off opposition. Already, the minister who maintains Ringera’s re-appointment was duly procedural has vowed to fight "the culture of mob justice to hound individuals out of public office".

Born in Meru District, Ringera has had unrivalled opportunity of landing plum jobs with different regimes. Some of his friends have publicly expressed envy at Ringera’s ability to charm the Government of the day.

Admitted to the Bar as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 1978, Ringera briefly served as a lecture in the Department of Public Law, University of Nairobi, and becoming chairman of the department in 1988.

He later served as judge of the High Court before landing the position of Solicitor-General.