By Vitalis Kimutai

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti has made a record in the country’s political landscape as the Vice-President who was sacked and re-instated.

Prof Saitoti has overcome many political storms and financial scandals including the Goldenberg scam, which became synonymous with businessman Paul Kamlesh Pattni.

Retired President Moi dropped Saitoti as his principal deputy before re-appointing him in a dramatic turn of events via a roadside announcement in Limuru.

Moi also shocked Saitoti during a public rally they both attended in Trans Mara District when he was told to the face that he was not to succeed him, as friendship and politics were two different things.

Saitoti was later to be fired as the VP in the run up to the 2002 General Election and was replaced by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Local Government Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

Against expectations, Moi anointed Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, then considered a political greenhorn, as his preferred successor and went on to campaign for him to the chagrin of Saitoti.

Saitoti was at one time linked to the Goldenberg scandal and his name featured in the Justice Samuel Bosire-led commission appointed to look into the matter, but he later took the fight to the High Court, which cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Free education

While serving as the Minister for Education, Saitoti was popular among teachers and it was during his tenure that the Free Primary and Subsidised Secondary education programmes were effected.

As Minister for Internal Security, Saitoti has presided over a regime where bank robberies, abductions and runaway crimes have re-emerged in full swing as Regular and Administration Police fight turf wars.

Saitoti’s election to the Tenth Parliament has been a subject of debate and at one time faced a petition filed by former US-based preacher David Sakuda over alleged rigging.

But Sakuda later withdrew the case and saved him the embarrassment of going through a full hearing.

Despite supporting President Kibaki’s election in 2003,Saitoti was not considered for the number two slot by President Kibaki when he rode into power, as the post went to the late Kijana Wamalwa.

Saitoti is one of the key figures in the current Government seeking to succeed Kibaki when he leaves office in 2012 after serving two successive terms.

Born in 1945, Saitoti attended Mangu High School before proceeding to Brandeis University in the US for an undergraduate degree and obtained his PhD from Warwick University, specialising in Algebraic Topology.

He has held various ministerial positions including Finance, Planning and National Development, Education, and currently Provincial Administration and Internal Security.