Weekly Citizen, February 20th-26th, 2006

The increasingly besieged regime of President Mwai Kibaki scarred by the
Anglo- Leasing graft allegations that has seen some of its key pillars
crumble is being run by one man, sources now claim. And that man, say
the sources is not President Kibaki but his overbearing controversial PS
for Strategic Policy Analysis Stanley Murage. Murage and his close
allies at State House are said to have capitalized on the president's
lack of political foresight and at time ill-health to independently run
the country without consultations with bureaucrats well-versed with
political, social and economic basics involved in managing a state.

Weekly Citizen, your favourite and Kenya's most authoritative newspaper,
has information it is Murage who drafted the statement that misled the
President to the effect that former Education Minister Prof. George
Saitoti and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi had accepted their
resignations when in the true sense the had not and never tendered their
resignations. Surprisingly, while accepting the "resignation" of the two
ministers, Kibaki made a blunder in his statement announcing that
Saitoti was the Minister for Education, Science and Technology,
forgetting the docket of Science and Technology was in the hands of Dr.
Noah Wekesa. It is such blunders that sometimes worry many Kenyans over
the President's capacity to absorb crisis.

Sources in the know of goings-on at State House say, Prof. Saitoti and
Murungi flatly refused to resign during a meeting with Kibaki. The
meeting had been organized with Murage with full blessings of the old
guards, namely John Michuki ( Internal Security), Njenga Karume
(Defence) Amos Kimunya (Finance) and Francis Muthaura ( Head of the
Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet). Of late detractors of the
group refer to them as the "sleeping men"(SM). This is due to the fact
they like dozing off into slumber even during public functions.
Recently, Karume was in deep sleep at a function in Karen organized by
the military. The picture was captured by the entire press and he was
even unable to read the speech.

In fact word has it, Kibaki at State House usually takes time to sleep
in mid-morning and mid afternoon and that is why after the nap, he
addresses the nation after 7 pm. The look of freshness arising from
being well-rested is usually obvious to any keen observer as the
president reads out his speeches in the evening. Since taking power in
2002, Kibaki has made it his unfailing habit to address the nation in
the evening unlike former President Moi who used to make major
announcements at 1 pm.
That Kibaki may not be quite himself is further manifested by the fact
that he appears not to know the number, names and positions of his
entire cabinet. While in talks with a foreign ambassador sometimes back,
Kibaki surprised those present when he said his vice-president Wamalwa
Kijana was best suited to handle the issue. The President had forgotten
that Wamalwa died two years ago and his vice-president is the embattled
Moody Awori. At one time he is said to have referred to trade and
industry minister Mukhisa Kituyi as Lugonzo, a former Nairobi mayor who
died years ago. This appears to be a clear case of memory lapse. The
diplomat had questioned the current state of famine in the country and
measures taken to curb the situation.

This is not the first time Kibaki has blundered in public. While on a
tour of neighbouring country, the Head of State confused names of
ministers accompanying him. It is whispered, in an effort to avoid
introduction mix-up, one has to say his name in advance so the president
can know who is who. According to sources, so bad is Kibaki's memory
lapse that he at times fails to recognize members of his immediate
family (First Family). During the referendum vote in Othaya, the
president was captured live unable to recognize the name of one of his
sons, Kangai, and First Lady Lucy had to remind him. Prior to the
referendum, the president had surprised Kenyans by claiming the copies
of the draft constitution were for sale when in true sense they were
given out freely. At State House, Kibaki is said to forget names of his
staff apart that of his chief chef. He at times forgets confidential
documents giving his handlers a hectic time in tracing them.

Since the 2002 road accident that condemned him to a wheelchair and the
mild stroke that struck him soon thereafter, President Kibaki's health
has been the subject of debate in many quarters. President Kibaki had to
endure several months of poor health since the 2002 road accident and
after taking over the reins of power in a historic hand-over ceremony.
He was admitted to hospital with a blood clot in his leg after
confinement in a wheelchair following the road accident. Although his
medical handlers have on several instances assured Kenyans that his
health is okay, political analysts say ever since the road accident and
his subsequent admission to hospital for complication of high blood
pressure, the President's ability to discharge the duties of Head of
State and at times resulting in memory lapse. Before the road accident
that saw him suffer a fractured leg, arm and neck, President Kibaki was
an astute politician whose oratory and grasp of national political
events was at his finger tips although he is said to have been treated
for cerebral aneurysm, a condition that causes disorders by weakening or
enlargement of an artery or vein in the brain that can rapture or cause
bleeding. The president had to undergo surgery to remove the aneurysm;
something that left a lasting physical mark on his forehead, which
observers explain, is the reason for the regular twitching of the
muscles around the mouth, a characteristic common with the president of
late. It is because of this complication, experts say, that caused the
blood clot develop into his right leg that had been plastered after the
accident, two factors that pinpoint to the mild stroke he had to
subsequently suffer, paralyzing some functions such as body movement,
which has been noticeable with the Kibaki. Although experts say that the
duration of recovery depends on one's age, general health and
neurological conditions, President Kibaki showed remarkable improvement
in his health but turns and twists of intrigues on the political
landscape appear to have taken a toll on him.

And with John Githongo's earth shaking dossier on grand corruption at
the heart of the government and mounting pressure on his close allies
implicated in corruption to quit office, the president is left facing
one of his most trying moments. His indecisiveness in taking prompt
action has raised numerous questions at his style of managing state
affairs, which leaves the question of whether the president is in
control of things. Aware of Kibaki's current state, PS Murage has
effectively capitalized on it has fast become the behind the throne
dreaded by government ministers. The mere mention of his name is said to
make many ministers cower in fear. Murage is the man who has more say in
the running of state affairs than the president himself.
Murage himself a man who loves the bottle and does not keep secrets is
known to boast that he is the seat of power and without him Kibaki
cannot rule.

To prove this point, in all strategic ministries, Murage has ensured
that he has his person as PS or minister. After hounding out Kiraitu and
Prof. Saitoti, the PS made sure his man Amos Kimunya moved to the plum
Finance Ministry docket to replace dimunitive David Mwiraria while other
ministers were said to in acting capacity. In the now influential
ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Murage has Martha Karua
as minister. Both Murage and Karua hail from Kirinyaga district. A
directive to have prominent personalities surrender passports and
firearms is said to be the brainchild of the influential PS now
popularly known as "Godfather" in the corridors of power. In the
Ministry of Energy, Murage's blue-eyed boy is PS Patrick Nyoike. In fact
Murage is linked to the poles tender scandal at Kenya Powe and Lighting.
It is said the Tanzanian firm in the controversial tender was introduced
to Murage by his long-time friend Samuel Gichuru, a former long-serving
MD of KPLC. The relationship between Murage and Gichuru dates back to
the reign of Moi when both were members of the Central Province
Development Support Group (CPDSG). Hosea Kiplagat, Murage relationship
roots can be traced to the KANU era when Kiplagat brokered his
appointment as permanent secretary. At AG chambers Murage's pointsman is
Solicitor-General Muchemi Wanjuki. Inside sources say, Murage was
instrumental in the removal of Alfred Getonga from State House as
Kibaki's Personal Assistant and does not want a replacement as he
prefers to handle the docket himself.

The PS is currently said to be working on a new look cabinet that will
see a number of ministries merged. He is said not to get on well with
Francis Muthaura. The other person Murage worked with but with a lot of
suspicion is former head of the National Security Intelligence Service
(NSIS) Brig.(rtd) Wilson Boinett. He is also known to have no time for
Attorney General Amos Wako. He (Murage) is said to be fronting for
Justice Samuel Bosire as the right person to replace the ever-smiling
Wako.
 

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