This archive report was first published on 25 July 2019.
On Wednesday night, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga held a consultative meeting at State House Nairobi during a state dinner for Botswana President Eric Masisi. The meeting was a significant moment in the country's politics, as it marked a turning point in the leadership of the Treasury.
According to sources, the president had a different game plan in mind when it came to replacing Henry Rotich as Treasury CS. Labour CS Ukur Yatani, a former Governor of Marsabit County, was chosen for the role. Yatani's appointment was a surprise to many, as he was not from the Rift Valley region, which is traditionally associated with the Treasury CS position.
Yatani's background is rooted in the ODM party, having been elected as the Governor of Marsabit County in 2013. He later defected from the party in 2016 and formed his own party, Frontier Alliance, which supported President Uhuru Kenyatta's presidency in 2017. Despite his defection, Yatani maintained a close relationship with Raila Odinga and is one of the few leaders in Jubilee who demands respect for the ODM leader.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's decision to appoint Yatani as the new Treasury CS was seen as a strategic move to bring in someone who is loyal to the head of state and has a cordial relationship with Raila Odinga. The president also wanted someone who would focus on the Big 4 agenda and not be controlled by outside political interference.
”I am alive to the fact that the task ahead is enormous. I will do my best to ensure President Uhuru Kenyatta achieves his dream of transforming the nation,” Yatani said in a statement accepting the appointment.
