By John Njiraini
It was probably designed to be a silent affair. But the celebrations and air of relief at the Ministry of Trade after PS Cyrus Njiru was transferred to Transport betrayed discontent.
Branded a ‘super’ permanent secretary by Naivasha MP John Mututho because of his huge pay package and a ‘highhanded’ boss by some staff at the Trade ministry, Njiru has remained little unknown to the public. And this is what he prefers.
Njiru prefers to remain secretive and guarded unless when carrying out his official work. This is why even his first name has remained unclear to many, with some calling him ‘Silas’.
"I prefer not to talk about myself. For me what matters is service, which I consider to be a personal honour," he told The Standard on Sunday at his office on the day President Kibaki announced the changes.
Working relationship
Though he refused to talk about the reasons that could have triggered his transfer, sources at the ministry intimate he was not in good working relations with Trade Minister Amos Kimunya and some employees. An employee who requested anonymity due to fear of victimisation says Njiru had alienated himself by running the ministry with a mentality that career civil servants are lazy and inefficient.
Dr Cyrus Njiru |
But Njiru, who joined Government last year, contends people are often hostile to change and this can undermine results.
"As a leader you must optimise on the good traits of people and take challenges as an opportunity to perform," he said.
While his manner of running the ministry could have rubbed many people the wrong way, it is the revelation in Parliament that he takes home a package well above his supervisor, Francis Muthaura, the Head of Public Service, that has raised questions on who Dr Cyrus Njiru is.
Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno says Njiru is one of two PSs who fall in a ‘special category’ and earns Sh1,050,000 per month, compared to Muthaura’s Sh780,000.
Specialised skills
He takes home the hefty package because he was ‘head-hunted’ and possesses specialised skills brought into the Public Service from international organisations.
Though many could question the huge salary he earns considering most of his colleagues receive a quarter of that, Njiru stands worlds apart from other PSs in terms of academic qualifications, experience and exposure.
And while he got offended when asked about his huge pay, he remained unapologetic.
"For me this is a personal sacrifice to serve," he said.
He also did not want to discuss the numerous qualifications and his career path, mentioning that he holds four masters degrees and a PhD. He has also worked in various international organisations.
But The Standard on Sunday dug into his career path and unravels the man whose philosophy is that people should "work for the glory of God".
Now serving a second stint in the public sector, Njiru first worked for the Government in several senior positions in engineering and management.
Before his appointment as Trade PS last year, he was the principal infrastructure development and management advisor at the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) based in Tunisia. He was involved in the structuring of many financing deals for the bank.
A specialist in project development, he has worked as a research and consultant manager at the Institute of Development Engineering in the United Kingdom, with the responsibility for infrastructure projects in Asia and Africa.
Njiru, 52, has also consulted widely with international development institutions such as the World Bank, Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency and the Department for International Development (DfID) in Europe, Asia and Africa. Originally trained as a civil engineer at the University of Nairobi, he specialised in project management, finance, and corporate management, after training in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Besides holding a PhD in infrastructure development and management, Njiru also holds a masters degree in Business Administration (MBA), with a bias on strategic planning. He is a member of various local and international professional bodies.
An accomplished writer and a co-author of several books, Njiru’s name has featured in various international journals addressing issues on infrastructure development, management and finance. Njiru believes in keeping the eye on the ball in all engagements.
"My passion has been facilitating trade and investment since I joined the ministry," he said.
For the period he has been the PS, Njiru says he has recorded tremendous achievements in putting the country on the world map as an ideal destination for investment.
Economic partnership
While at the Trade ministry, he developed a five-year strategic plan.
He has also been pushing for a common position within Comesa member states in negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union.
"My wish is to see large and diverse markets for our products," he stated.
Unfortunately for him, he will not be at the Ministry of Trade to push for the realisation of this dream.
