Kiyiapi quits ministry to vie for presidency

By Peter Orengo

Education Permanent Secretary Professor James ole Kiyiapi becomes the first high profile civil servant to officially resign from the government to take a shot at elective politics.

Professor Kiyiapi who is gunning for the country’s presidency said President Kibaki had accepted his resignation as PS effective Monday April 16, adding that the time was right so that his successor can take over before the beginning of the second term.

During a farewell ceremony organized by the Education Ministry and attended by Minister Mutula Kilonzo and all heads of departments, Professor Kiyiapi said he was not taking the step to run way from public service but was responding to a calling to higher level of National service.

Presidential aspirant James Ole Kiyiapi{left} is bid farewell by Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo at Jogoo House, Nairobi when he resigned as the Ministry's Permanent Secretary on Monday April 16, 2012. (Photo:Boniface Okendo/Standard)

"For those who were asking if I was serious to run for the presidency, this should be proof enough. I want Kenyans to hear me out, that I am worthy to lead this country," said an emotional Kiyiapi to hundreds of employees who turned up at Jogoo house to bid him farewell.

The PS said he will be running on a reformist agenda and asked Kenyans to judge him on what he had done for the country for the last 20 years as a civil servant.

He said to fulfil all the precepts in the new constitution, Kenyans needed a professional to lead the country in the right way.

"This is a matter of agency which I will respond to without excuse. There cannot be other criteria for choosing a leader in this country other than their moral standing," said the PS who will be running on the Restore and Build Kenya (RBK) party.

Kiyiapi was first appointed PS in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources where he served until April 2008 when he was moved to the Medical Services Ministry and later to Education.