By Alex Ndegwa

NAIROBI, KENYA: New regimes exploit an array of plum public jobs like postings in foreign missions and State Corporations to reward political allies.

 In 2008 when President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga formed a coalition Government, close relatives of senior politicians and election losers found their way into top jobs.

The soft landing has proved crucial for some who bounced back after the March 4 elections as governors, senators and MPs.

Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana resigned as former President Kibaki’s advisor to contest the elections.

Prof Kibwana and Raphael Tuju had been appointed to the Office of the President after losing their parliamentary seats in the 2007 elections.

In October 2008 PNU and Kanu pointmen in Rift Valley in 2007 polls, Stephen Tarus and Julius Sunkuli, were among the beneficiaries of the airlifts to foreign missions. 

Tarus, who lost his Emgwen parliamentary seat, was posted to Australia. Sunkuli served as the country’s ambassador to China until his resignation last year to contest a Senate post but he lost again. After failing to recapture the Kiharu parliamentary seat in 2007, Kembi Gitura was appointed a high commissioner in Brussels.

After resigning last year, Gitura was elected Murang’a Senator and subsequently deputy Speaker of the Senate.

Another of Kibaki’s ally Kipruto arap Kirwa enjoyed a diplomatic posting in the IGAD. Joshua Kuttuny beat Kirwa to the Cherangany parliamentary seat but Kuttuny was too dethroned in March. He is praying for a political post from the new administration.

In March Wafula Wamunyinyi, a former envoy in Somalia, recaptured the Kanduyi parliamentary seat, which he had lost in 2007.  Raila’s ally Reuben Ndolo, after failing to recapture the Makadara parliamentary seat in 2007, was appointed board chairman at Athi Water Services Board (AWSB) to soothe his political wounds.

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s ally, Mutinda Mutiso was named the country’s High Commissioner to Tanzania. Political connections also landed Yvonne Khamati a diplomatic posting.

It will be interesting to see how the Uhuru-Ruto regime juggles the business of political rewards for the cronies at a time when the President has pledged to bring down the public service wage bill.