Impeccable sources from Harambee House has revealed to Kenyan Bulletin that Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is on his way out of the President Uhuru’s Cabinet.
President Kenyatta’s radical shake-up of his ministerial top team is inescapable if not yet already on his table. Our sources have reliably confirmed that CS Matiangi will be sacked and here is his replacement.
Retired Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Samson Mwathethe has emerged as the front-runner to take over the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government as cabinet secretary, Kenyan Bulletin can authoritatively confirm.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his top advisors have in recent days been locked in day-long meetings working on what state observers believe to be a radical reorganization of government that will see Matiang’i fired from the powerful interior docket.
Mwathethe, who, not only has a 42 years military experience but also one of Uhuru’s most trusted advisors in the last few years – a factor that has made him find favour with powerbrokers around the President who want him to replace the abrasive and authoritarian Matiang’i.
The ouster of Matiang’i stems from a vicious power struggle and fight for control of COVID-19 fund with Health CS Mutahi Kagwe and Treasury counterpart Ukur Yatani.
For those who aren’t privy to these, Matiang’i has been accused of failing to read and adapt to rapidly changing situations. The introduction of Kagwe and Yatani into cabinet shifted power in cabinet and Matiang’i continued blind fight with the duo. This war has only one casualty and Matiang’i is the designated loser.
The President anger was visible in April 16th when he warned-while addressing the Nation from the State House- against mediocrity in the utilisation of the Covid-19 funds.
“I do not expect to hear of needless delays and frustrations in the release of these funds. We should strive to improve and expedite our ability in assisting those in need of these funds,” Uhuru said at State House, Nairobi.
A source privy to the power brokers game revealed to Kenyan Bulletin that Matiang’i has allegedly been hampering the Boards operation by bureaucracy and unnecessary impediments.
Matiang’i reportedly tried to take control of in his capacity as a joint-government representative at the 10 member Board which was against the Presidents wishes.
And as we all have seen with NMS, The Head of State believes Major retired general Mwathethe will introduce military efficiency in the management of logistics in the Covid-19 fund.
President Kenyatta and his close allies want the egocentric Matiangi out as the stakes at COVID-19 Emergency Fund Tripple to multi-billions. The power brokers want the fund to be managed by Treasury CS Ukur Yatani and his Health counterpart CS Mutahi Kagwe.
So far, the fund has received billions in funds and material donations by corporates, foundations, religious institutions to assist in the fight against coronavirus
In addition to local support, the country has received significant credit from Bretton Woods institutions in the last two months since coronavirus was announced in Kenya.
In April, the Ministry of Health received Sh5.3 billion from the World Bank to finance the production of sanitisers, protective gear for medical personnel and scaling up bed capacity for Covid-19 patients. Last week, the International Monetary Fund released a Sh79.3 billion loan to Kenya to help the country fight Covid-19.
Samson Mwathathe
Mwathethe’s term as Chief of Defence Forces initially expired in 2019, but President Kenyatta extended it for a year, before his retirement last week.
He had served as the CDF since his appointment in 2015 and was known for his diplomatic style and professional advisories from a military standpoint; perhaps the reason why the President has made widespread military appointments to civilian
Domiciled in Office of the President, Interior and Coordination of National Government docket gave Matiang’i sweeping powers over ordinary cabinet secretaries. His elevation to CS with supervisory roles across government through the as the head of the powerful National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee.
Amidst the Coronavirus crisis, Uhuru is believed to be plotting an economic recovery program starting the 2020/2021 financial year. The plot will see several outsiders come into a government of national unity to help in managing Kenya’s battered economy.
As cold war between Uhuru and his beleaguered deputy William Ruto escalated with reports of changes in the senate leadership, sources maintain the looming changes in government will see leaders allied to the DP kicked out of cabinet positions.
Matiang’i
Matiang’i finds himself with plagued by ethical and legal transgressions following well-publicised accusations of fraud, bribery, death threats and blackmail.
Earlier in May, a Nairobi businessman released a volcanic statement in which he accused CS Matiang’i and others of being part of a vicious extortionist cartel that has reportedly stolen nearly Sh4 billion through fraudulent land claims.
In an explosive dossier that was submitted before Parliament, Meshack Onyango Dehay admits being privy to the fraudulent transactions that saw the government pay billions to acquire the land of two schools in Ruaraka with CS Matiang’i allegedly being a direct beneficiary of staggering Sh 300 million bribe.
