Key allies of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta have been kicked out of strategic state corporations in a quiet but ruthless purge as President William Ruto aligns agencies with his vision.
The sackings have seen Ruto’s old allies — some of whom were kicked out during Uhuru's tenure — bouncing back to their old positions in what seems like a game of musical chairs.
The Star has established that chief executive officers, some of whose tenures were renewed before Uhuru's exit, are in panic as Ruto begins to establish his authority.
One high-profile casualty is Kenya Pipeline managing director Macharia Irungu who was forced from one of the country's most lucrative state corporations.
In his place, Ruto's team reinstated Joe Sang who was arrested and charged for corruption alongside other top executives.
His graft case was terminated on December 8.
As Sang made a grand comeback to the corner office, his then KPC board chair John Ngumi, who was seen as Uhuru's blue-eyed boy, was dropped as Safaricom board chairman.
The first major purge by the Ruto team at KPC was the revocation of Rita Achieng Okuthe as board chairperson.
She was replaced by Faith Boinett.
The Ruto administration has also made key changes at NSSF, NHIF, KRA, Kenya Power, the Communications Authority, Kenya Meat Commission, Kenyatta University Council and the Kenya Ports Authority.
Sources at KPC intimated to the Star Irungu had been handed a second term at the agency by the Uhuru-era board and could seek compensation for breach of contract.
Ruto's team also removed Julius Karangi as NSSF board chairman, replacing him with Anthony Muriuki while Michael Kamau replaced Lewis Nguyai at NHIF.
Karangi is a retired military boss and was a close associate of Uhuru and President Mwai Kibaki, now deceased.
Mary Wambui, another close Ruto associate, replaced Gilbert Kibe at the Communications Authority.
Kibe resigned in December saying he was heading for other engagements.
At KMC, Ruto revoked the involvement of Kenya Defence Forces and named Joseph Kasaon as chairperson.
Kenyatta University council members, who had run-ins with vice chancellor Paul Wainaina, were also replaced.
The team is now chaired by Shem Migot. The latter was sacked by then Education CS George Magoha and replaced by Chris Kiamba, now removed.
The Star has established that many CEOs of state agencies whose contracts had been renewed by Uhuru-era boards are also not comfortable.
A managing director of a strategic parastatal in the infrastructure sector is among those earmarked for removal in the ongoing purge.
The opposition has protested Ruto’s radical changes, citing Sang’s appointment as an alarming ‘sign of the new normal’.
Azimio la Umoja honchos told the Star the move is an indication of the new government’s lack of commitment to fight corruption.
Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja MP) said Kenyans should not expect any changes or continuity to the graft war Uhuru had spearheaded.
He argued that on corruption, “the Kenya Kwanza administration has at least been sincere and consistent.
“They have never pretended to fight it nor have they bothered about perceptions around it. It appears we shall have to live with this reality for the entire term of the government,” Wandayi said.
At Kenya Power, directors who were believed to be pro-Uhuru, were kicked out.
Their replacements, including current chairperson Brenda Masinde, Duncan Ojwang, and Logan Christi, were common faces in Kenya Kwanza campaigns.
Former Kenya Power chairperson Vivian Yeda, who was steering a reforms plan aimed at reducing the cost of electricity, was among those removed.
At KPA, Ruto has appointed former Kinango MP Ben Tayari as chairman for three years, revoking Joseph Kibwana’s appointment.
Many heads are expected to roll at the entity, considering Ruto earlier declared he would mount a crackdown on Uhuru-era cartels.
Tayari’s first assignment is to fast-track the naming of a new managing director to replace John Mwangemi who has held the post in acting capacity since July 2021.
The KPA board is expected to unveil the name before the end of this week, ushering in a new face of management which is expected to initiate sweeping changes.
At KRA, Uhuru’s man Francis Muthaura was kicked out and replaced by Anthony Mwaura, who until his appointment was United Democratic Alliance’s elections boss.
In a recent special gazette notice, Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u made new appointments to the KRA board as well, pointing to the likelihood of major changes by the taxman.
The changes saw the revocation of the appointment of Susan Mudhune, Mukesh Shah, Ambassador Richard Opembe, Leonard Ithau and Charles Makori Omanga as KRA board members.
They were replaced by Darshan Shah, Wilkister M. Simiyu, Fancy C. Too, Michael Kamau Kamiru and Samir Ibrahim who will serve for three years starting January 13, 2023.
Those aware of the intrigues say the tenure of some KRA commissioners, including Commissioner General Githii Mburu, could be tinkered with by the new team.
Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni said the changes are a ‘clear statement that Kenya Kwanza is out to reverse the institutional reforms achieved so far.’
“This government has no respect for the rule of law. They have no respect for our constitution no wonder they voted against it.”
Kioni said the opposition has analysed the developments and would issue a comprehensive statement on the impact.
“This is the beginning of the end. He is out to purge not just individuals who would stop corruption in this country and introduce individuals who would allow the looting of public resources,” the former Ndaragwa MP said.
“Before we know it, he will be targeting people from specific communities. We have been briefed of a looming purge at NTSA and Safaricom,” Kioni said.
(Edited by V. Graham)