Ruto, Gachagua Allies Jostling For Lucrative State Jobs

There is heated jostling over plum State jobs pitting the allies of President William and those of his deputy Hon. Rigathi Gachagua.

The money hungry allies are eyeing appointments to Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Pipeline Company, National Security Fund and National Hospital Insurance Fund.

Gachagua wants to be the man pushing for his tribesmen to replace those who were appointed by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta. But the DP is facing headwinds since President Ruto has already appointed Kikuyus in some of those positions.

The president recently appointed one Antony Muriuki to chair the NSSF board of directors for a three year term, replacing Julius Karangi whom he moved to chair Council for Population and Development Board.

The NSSF board is full of members of the Kikuyu community with reports indicating that David Mwangangi (Kamba) who is serving as an acting CEO will soon be replaced with a Kalenjin.

At KPC, the High Court had to put brakes on Kenya Kwanza’s plans to allow the return of corrupt MD Joe Sang after it suspended his reappointment and the position has since been re-advertised.

Sang wanted to move back to KPC after the board refused to renew the contract of Macharia Irungu who had served his three year tenure at the State agency.

“Pursuant to this objective, the company is seeking to recruit a highly motivated visionary, dynamic and result oriented candidate for the position of managing director,” KPC said in a notice.

President Ruto had in December last year appointed Faith Boinett, (Kalenjin) to serve as the chairperson of the Kenya Pipeline board of directors for three years meaning there are zero chances of a Kalenjin bagging the MD position.

Mrs Boineet became the board chair after the president revoked the appointment of Rita Okuthe (Luo), dimming any chance of corrupt Sang making a comeback to KPC.

Power brokers allied to Gachagua argue that there is a serious ‘Kalenjinization’ of key energy parastatals where controversial Davis Chirchir is the Energy cabinet secretary.

One Abraham Serem is the acting KenGen MD after he was appointed to replace Rebecca Miano in scheme aimed at controlling the lucrative institution by State House wheeler dealers.

Miano was strategically named cabinet secretary to create room for the Kalenjins and Gachagua is keenly watching to see if Sang will get the KPC job after a Kikuyu was kicked out.

At Kenya Ports Authority, the government is shopping for a substantive managing director with the acting boss John Mwangemi, a Mijikenda, set to exit by April.

“KPA is seeking to recruit an individual with a high degree of integrity and professionalism, impeccable administrative capabilities and strategic orientation managing director,” reads part of the job advertisement sent out on December 23.

Already Ruto has revoked the appointment of KPA chairman Joseph Kibwana and replaced him with former Kinangop MP, Hon. Benjamin Tayari, who will hold the lucrative position for duration of three years.

Tayari is a UDA party affiliate who was defeated in the August 2022 general election by his predecessor Gonzi Rai who made a comeback through Pamoja African Alliance.

He takes over the chairmanship of KPA at a time when the search for the new MD has entered a crucial stage. The former MP chairs the board conducting interviews to pick a new MD but the names of the applicants still remain unknown to the public.

KPA has had no substantive managing director since the exit of Daniel Manduku in March 2020 over corruption scandals. Manduku had served as the managing director for about two years after taking over from Catherine Mturi in 2018.

KPA has for years been rocked by tender wars and internal wrangling between its top executives and board members.