This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
Kiunjuri's Downfall: A Tale of Defiance and Betrayal ¶
Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri's tenure was marked by a series of public clashes with President Uhuru Kenyatta, culminating in his eventual sacking in March 2019.
During a meeting with Kenyans in Windhoek, Namibia, Uhuru publicly lambasted Kiunjuri for failing to take notes and ignoring Kenyans' concerns, stating, 'I see my brother Kiunjuri has just opened his notepad to write what I am saying. He was not interested in writing what these Kenyans were saying. Maybe it’s because it had nothing to do with Agriculture. He forgets he is a Minister of the Republic of Kenya.'
Despite his ouster, Kiunjuri maintained a close association with Deputy President William Ruto, which many analysts attributed to his downfall. He was seen with Ruto at a public forum barely a week after his sacking.
However, Kiunjuri's relationship with Ruto has been shrouded in controversy, with some alleging that he was paid to sabotage Uhuru's development agenda in the quest to portray Uhuru as a failed president.
Undeterred, Kiunjuri launched his own political party, The Service Party, which bears a striking resemblance to Ruto's defunct URP party. He has since ruled out running for a Gubernatorial seat in 2022 but has not revealed whether he will aim for the presidency.
