Francis Kimemia is convinced that there were some forces bent on thwarting his ascension to the plum job.

By Abdikadir Sugow

After overcoming the most challenging hurdle in his long civil service career, Francis Kimemia has landed a key job in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.

Kimemia survived what he believes was an orchestrated attempt to prevent him from ascending to the position of Secretary to the Cabinet, which is effectively equivalent to the position of Cabinet Secretary in the lean 24-member Cabinet of 24 secretaries crafted by the Constitution. As he faced the parliamentary committee that mandatorily vetted him after President Kenyatta had nominated him, Kimemia had to contend with a raft of accusations relating to his integrity emanating from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Some observers argue that he was nominated to the position as a reward for the loyalty he displayed to Kenyatta before and after the elections and for his robust role in ensuring his transition from the Kibaki era and inauguration.

 Some forces

Kimemia is convinced that there were some forces bent on thwarting his ascension to the plum job. “I was told that there were some senior officials who had been paid to have me maligned in the newspapers and other media outlets,” Kimemia sensationally told The Standard on Sunday after successfully going through the vetting process, paving the way for his appointment.

Already Kimemia and other Cabinet secretaries have been formally appointed and sworn in at a ceremony where President Kenyatta challenged them to be transparent and impartial in service delivery to Kenyans. Other analysts state that Kimemia’s appointment was a foregone conclusion, claiming that the parliamentary vetting committee was not rigorous enough and was heavily tilted in favour of the Kenyatta-led Jubilee Coalition, which controls the National Assembly.

“After the vetting of Cabinet Secretary nominees, some of who were approved almost cursorily despite integrity, competence, political and ethical issues raised against them, nobody expected Kimemia to have any difficulties sailing through,” a senior Coalition for Reform and Democracy (Cord) legislator who declined to be named for fear of breaching parliamentary protocol, said.

Kimemia twice appeared before the House Committee to answer allegations made against him by the EACC in relation to mega corruption and shielding senior government officials accused of corrupt activities.

Contacted at the height of the vetting process, Kimemia accused some hidden forces of being involved in making public through the media, the alleged acts of corruption implicating or associated with him in a letter from the EACC.

As he pondered who may have prompted the scandalous allegations against him and leakage of contents of the EACC letter to the media just before the vetting process kicked off on live TV, Kimemia declared: “I have not heard about the letter and the issue was not raised by the vetting committee.” 

He went on to say that he had never been interrogated or questioned by anybody including the anti-corruption body over any such allegations.

All that appears to be the water under the bridge after his approval in the National Assembly and subsequent swearing in. Kimemia now wields the pen of power as secretary to the top administrative organ of the country’s leadership – the Cabinet chaired by President Kenyatta.

The President formally appointed him as Secretary to the Cabinet after vetting committee on Administration and National Security gave him a clean bill of health and the same approved by Parliament.

Airport project

The committee, under the chairmanship of Asman Kamama absolved Kimemia of allegations of corruption raised by the anti-graft body. Kamama’s team noted that EACC Chief Executive Officer/Secretary Halakhe Waqo had clearly indicated in his presentation that the letter sent to the committee was for cautionary and advisory purposes, but not to depict Kimemia as guilty or culpable. EACC is said to be probing Kimemia’s alleged involvement in blocking the suspension of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Managing Director Stephen Gichuki and the former Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi.

The two are on the spot over the handling of Sh56 billion JKIA Greenfield Terminal project and the purchase of Kenya’s Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. Kamama’s parliamentary team asked the EACC to expedite its investigations into both matters.

The team said Kimemia had progressively risen through the ranks, having started as a District Officer rising to Head of Public Service and now Secretary to the Cabinet. He has vast experience in public administration.

The Committee also praised Kimemia’s potential for the job, saying he exhibited impressive knowledge on topical issues, especially those touching on public service and was keen on making positive proposals to move the country forward.

Kimemia has had a more than 30-year career in public administration, served as District Commissioner and in development, and peace and security management.

He took over in 2012 from Francis Muthaura who stepped aside after being implicated in the 2008 Post-Election chaos, for which he was later absolved after the International Criminal Court (ICC) dropped charges against him.

He previously served as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security. Kimemia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Public Administration and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Kimemia was involved in the ongoing police reforms and the restructuring of Provincial Administration institutions. He has been involved in peace, disarmament and reconciliation process, creating over 100 district peace committees countrywide and strengthening community democratic policing, rule of law and civic virtues.

 Kenyatta appointment

President Kenyatta appointed him to the position to “ensure a smooth transition from the Kibaki administration.” Duties and responsibilities for Cabinet Secretary in accordance with Section 154 of the Constitution include taking charge of the Cabinet Office, keeping minutes of Cabinet meetings, conveying decisions of the Cabinet to the appropriate persons or authorities and performing other duties as directed by Cabinet.

Kimemia has promised to ensure that the recommendations of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) are fully implemented.

He said he would fast track the preparation of a Cabinet memo showing how the report will be implemented and brought to the National Assembly in 21 days.

Kimemia outlined his plans for the office and said he will ensure that the Executive does not slow down Parliament’s legislative agenda, pledging that the Cabinet would work closely with Parliament.