Military top organ meeting put off over Haji's absence

By BEAUTTAH OMANGA

A planned high-level military meeting today where far-reaching changes were to be effected has been re-scheduled indefinitely.

According to sources, the meeting was put off following the absence Defence Minister Yusuf Haji who chairs such sessions.

Mr Haji was said to be in Arusha, Tanzania, for official duties.

According to military rules, the minister is the only person who can chair such a sensitive meeting.

Anxiety has gripped the military cycles as top officials anticipated changes.

The Defence Council chaired by the Chief of General Staff (CGS) Jeremiah Kianga, and which has not met for the past one year, is grappling with several pending changes.

Possible scenarios

Already two heads of military’s premier colleges, the National Defence College (NDC) and the Defence Staff College (DSC), are on their 90-day leave and hoping that they would be considered for promotions.

Lieutenant General Jones Mutwii, who is the commandant of the NDC and a close ally of the General Kianga, is expected to either be retired when his leave ends in December or be promoted to a general.

Vice-Chief of General Staff Julius Karangi, whose term was extended by President Kibaki (the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces) for two and a half years is seen as a possible replacement of Kianga. Some sources said Kibaki is likely to give the CGS an opportunity to pick his successor.

In the event this happens, Lt General Mutwii could be appointed CGS designate as he waits Kianga to formally retire in August next year.

Mutwii took over as commandant National Defence College from Lieutenant General Jack K Tuwei, the current army commander.

"Anything in the military is possible, seniority, professionalism and merit are no longer a criteria for promotion," some sources in the military insisted.