This archive report was first published on 13 July 2019.
Uhuru's New Prime Minister: Dr Fred Okengo Matiang'i ¶
President Uhuru Kenyatta has made a significant move in his administration by appointing Dr Fred Okengo Matiang'i as the head of a key committee on the implementation of development programmes.
According to sources, Matiang'i will chair the committee, which includes all Cabinet secretaries, the Attorney General, and the Head of the Public Service, effectively elevating him to a 'prime minister or chief minister'.
Dr Matiang'i's appointment comes at a time when President Kenyatta is fighting to salvage his legacy, and his Deputy William Ruto is vying for an ambition. The two leaders no longer share the same script, and their relationship has become increasingly strained.
One of the main reasons for the tension between the two leaders is their differing views on corruption. President Kenyatta has declared corruption a national threat, and Dr Matiang'i has been instrumental in his fight against graft.
Dr Matiang'i has refused to approve multi-billion-shilling tenders pushed by Ruto and his associates, which has led to a vicious fight between the two leaders. The latest incident occurred in December last year when Ruto asked Matiang'i to award a tender for the supply of police uniforms to other people, not just the National Youth Service.
Dr Matiang'i stood his ground, insisting that all uniforms will be made by the NYS, as directed by President Kenyatta. This move has further strained the relationship between the two leaders.
Dr Matiang'i's appointment as the head of the key committee is seen as a strategic move by President Kenyatta to counter Ruto's influence in the government. The President knows that Dr Matiang'i is a volcano who can stand up to Ruto and has the guts to face him fair and square.
President Kenyatta needs Dr Matiang'i and others like him to salvage what is left of his legacy. The appointment of Dr Matiang'i as the head of the key committee is a significant move that will have far-reaching consequences for the government and the country.
