NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 15 – Industrialization Minister Henry Kosgey has been part of the Kenya public fittings for almost three decades.
His stay power in the treacherous Kenya political landscape speaks volumes of the Tinderet MP’s ability to adjust to the ever changing and uncompromising political climate.
Mr Kosgey’s time in Cabinet has not been without controversy as he is currently embroiled in corruption allegations.
Recently, the Minister was questioned by the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) over the importation of several vehicles said to be over the eight-year-old threshold.
The appointment of Dr Joseph Koskei as the Kenya Bureau of Standards Managing Director has also rattled the political establishment which claims that Mr Kosgey acted irregularly.
The Minister’s name also cropped up in the United States embassy cables recently exposed by WikiLeaks. The cables suggest that the minister could be behind several other corruption scandals and that he should be banned from travelling to the US.
The cables also state that his ownership of vast amounts of land within the Mau complex may have played its part in fanning the post election violence in 2008.
Mr Kosgey who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of Nairobi was first elected to the August House in 1979 when he took over from Gerald Nathaniel Kalya.
The 63-year-old has served both former President Daniel arap Moi and currently Mwai Kibaki under various portfolios including Transport and Communications, Co-operative Development as well as Science and Technology.
He served his first five terms as Tinderet MP under the KANU banner.
He is now representing the constituency under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party in which he is the chairman.
Mr Kosgey has also been involved in the private sector. He served as Executive Chairman of the Kenya National Assurance Company between 1989 and 1992.
About The Author
