Opinion: CS Matiang’i is Kenyatta’s new Super-CS!

Clearly, today’s gazetted news are saying that Kenyatta have the new powers, the new mandate and only answers to President Uhuru Kenyatta directly. That means, by default CS Fred Matiang’i, the CS for the Interior by the new roles in Government. He has the mission and mandate to supervise the government until the President doesn’t see it fit. In that picture, the Deputy President William Ruto is a ship lost at sea with less rudder to steer in the midst of ocean.

Kenyatta has directed by Executive Order, that CS Matiang’i is in charge of the National Development Implementation and also the Coordination of the Government Ministries. So, that the CS will in this role focus on “The Big Four Agenda”. This is directly ensuring the control of the ministries and the resources, so that the new CS has oversight to another level than before. This is really surpassing the DP and securing the loyalty amongst the ones dealing directly with the Handshake.

They are clearly sidestepping Ruto here. They are manoeuvring and toying around him, as the President is offering excessive power and initially delivering him the powers of a Prime Minister. Therefore, making Ruto the token figurehead, but powerless. Sort of like the Vice-President in Uganda, Edward Ssekandi, who only attends funerals and exhibits. Not really governing or running government, but a figurehead and breathing person on behest of the government needed be.

After the handshake, the role of Raila Odinga has already been put in question with the Building Bridges Initiative and how he configures in the shadow of the government. The difference here, is that CS Matiang’i is directly mandated and has a supervision role. Which by default gives him massive powers. That in the end, also makes Ruto less viable. The loser today is Ruto and his people.

We can wonder if Matiang’i has more power than the Building Bridges Initiative. As the Taskforce are put in place, we can wonder how that will be put in play with the new Communication Cabinet Commission (CCC). Therefore, the BBI versus CCC might be a thing, who knows right?

But at this point, Kenyatta and Odinga is best-buddies showing up at functions like they have been friends from day-one. However, the play of changes today can really show that Kenyatta are showing his force towards the Hustler. That Kenyatta trust someone else more and wants him to reign in the Cabinet. Also get the Cabinet more functioning in his regard. That is what you can get out of this move.

We now have Super-CS, a Special, Limited Edition Cabinet Secretary with Ultimate Extended Mandate, which looks like super-seed the Deputy President. Kenyatta has served by the newly minted gazette. CS Matang’i really has laid the golden goose. He gotten a big plate and should be ready eat. While Ruto has to configure how he should manoeuvrer and find his way.

The President should really soon explain his DP how this goes. While I wonder, how Odinga are playing into this too? Kenyatta are really playing them both and I am starting to wonder if this is a prequel to draft for the upcoming elections. Peace.

Jubilee Party Press Statement on Ugenya and Embaksi South Constituencies By-Election (18.01.2019)

RENOPS: Civil Society organizations across the Great Lakes & Horn of Africa condems the Riverside Terrorist attack (17.01.2019)

Kenya: DPP’s Press Statement on Arrests and intended Prosecution of Suspects involved in Dusit Hotel Complex Riverside Terror Incident (18.01.2019)

Media Council of Kenya: “Re: Retraction and Apology over Publication of Gory Images from the Dusit Complex Terror Attack” (17.01.2019)

Statement of the Chairperson of the Commission on the terrorist attack in Nairobi (17.01.2019)

The Chairperson of the Commission stresses that this cowardly attack, once again, underlines the imperative for renewed and reinvigorated efforts to combat terrorism throughout the continent.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 17, 2019 – The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack that took place today against innocent civilians in Nairobi, Kenya. He expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

The Chairperson of the Commission stresses that this cowardly attack, once again, underlines the imperative for renewed and reinvigorated efforts to combat terrorism throughout the continent. He commends the swift response by the security forces of Kenya and expresses the solidarity of the AU with the government and people of Kenya.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s commitment to continue working with its Member States and partners in the fight against terrorism throughout the continent, as well as to pursue its efforts to stabilize the situation in Somalia and the fight against al-Shabaab, through its Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)

Kenya: IGP Boinnet – Press Statement on the Dusit Hotel Attack (16.01.2019)

Kenya – Director General of UN Office and Executive Director of UN Habitat: Statement on the terror attack (16.01.2019)

IGAD Condemns the Cowardly and Reprehensible Attack on Dusit Complex in Nairobi, Kenya (15.01.2019)

Kenya: CS Fred Matiang’i Statement on the Riverside Attack (15.01.2019)