By KWENDO OPANGA
Posted Saturday, March 31 2012 at 16:42
Posted Saturday, March 31 2012 at 16:42
The construction of a Cabinet reflects the politics of the land and the intentions of the architect.
I will, therefore, use the fates of Mr Mutula Kilonzo, Mr Eugene Wamalwa and Mr Najib Balala to explain the politics of Cabinet appointments and dismissals.
Conventional wisdom would have decreed that at this time when Kenya needs healing and uniting because of the last election and the coming one, the justice and reconciliation docket be entrusted to an experienced and safe pair of hands.
In terms of political and professional experience, Mr Wamalwa would not hold a candle to Mr Kilonzo.
Mr Kilonzo is a senior counsel; he is one of the most brilliant lawyers Kenya has seen and he was not only former President Moi’s attorney, but also confidant as well as legal and political strategist for the man and his political machine, Kanu.
When Mr Moi retired, Mr Kilonzo was bound to stay in his orbit but, even better, was nominated to Parliament.
Docket of choice
Justice was Mr Kilonzo’s Cabinet docket of choice, so he must have taken it hard to be shunted aside at this time only to be replaced by a political tyro.
But the politics of appointment is not about the choices of the appointee, but the preferences of the appointing authority.
Appointees may shoot from the hip or lip but never in the direction or earshot of the boss.
Mr Kilonzo opposed Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s failed shuttle diplomacy that aimed at mobilising continental support for shielding principally Mr Uhuru Kenyatta from international justice and made plain and public his views.
The VP, too, made it plain that his mission was sanctioned by State House, adding pointedly that in these parts you don’t question the President.
Next, when the charges against Mr Kenyatta and Mr William Ruto were confirmed, Mr Kilonzo held that they could not stand for the presidency.
Mr Musyoka took the opposing view. When Mr Kilonzo did not see the wisdom in State House’s position that a committee be appointed to advise government on the way forward following the confirmations, the die was cast.
It does not matter that Mr Kilonzo was right then as he was last week when he dismissed the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru Association’s (Gema) call on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to postpone the impending trial of Mr Kenyatta until after the General Election as wishful thinking.
This must have been the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
This must have been the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
Mr Kilonzo was removed from Justice because he stood for something and against somebody. How about Mr Balala?
Mr Wamalwa and Mr Balala share something – they belong to what PNU strategist Prof Peter Kagwanja called Anybody But Raila (ABR) bandwagon.
But this is what makes the politics breathtaking: Just as it was a matter of time before Mr Balala was jettisoned, so also was it just a matter of time before Mr Wamalwa was promoted.
Mr Balala screamed betrayal at Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Muslim faithful railed at the PM for dishonouring a 2007 MoU guaranteeing Muslims 20 per cent representation in government.
Give the devil his due; Mr Balala has done a commendable job at Tourism. He was appointed to that docket to serve Kenyans by bringing in more tourists and investors in the sector. He did.
But the PM invested in the man to support him politically and not help politicos who want to supplant him. So Mr Balala failed the political loyalty test.
Political assignment
The political task facing Mr Danson Mwazo – the new man at Tourism – at the Coast is clear.Why, then, was he sacked from Tourism? Because the job gave him the stature and clout necessary to both shoulder and execute his political assignments.
In this he is to be supported by Mr Hassan Joho who was handed the job of assistant minister for Transport as his tool of trade.
So, what is Mr Wamalwa’s political assignment? He is the high-flying PNU pointman in Trans Nzioa where his Saboti constituency is, and especially in the neighbouring Western region counties where his bedrock support is to be found.
To smooth his way, neighbour and rival Moses Wetang’ula was removed from the high-profile Foreign Affairs office to Trade.
So, are we looking at a Kenyatta/Wamalwa ticket? If Mr Kenyatta does not run, will Gema back Mr Wamalwa for Kenya’s fourth President?
Whichever way it goes, the Wamalwa card was meant to be a game changer in Western Kenya. Well, Mr Wamalwa’s Justice script is as plain as his political work is cut out.
Kwendo Opanga is a media consultant opanga@diplomateastafrica.com
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