NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 3 – Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua is among six top government officials who quit lucrative State positions on Monday to join politics.
Mutua told journalists that he was going to launch a bid to become the chief executive of Machakos County.
“I have quit government because I want to be a Governor for Machakos,” he said and disclosed he would vie under Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Democratic Movement party.
Mutua who has served in the government for eight years, told journalists that he was heeding the “call of the people of Machakos.”
“The people of Machakos have requested me to be their first governor because they want somebody who is young, corrupt free, energetic and a visionary who has the ability to transform the county into an economic and social power house,” he said.
He joins other contenders for the post among them Kangundo MP Johnson Muthama, Sports Assistant Minister and Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti and former Water Minister Mutua Katuku.
Others are former senior intelligence officer Jimmy Mumina, Titus Ndundu, Pius Kathukya, George Kioko wa Luka and one-time national intelligence chief William Kivuvani.
“I will be writing a book titled Shooting the Messenger in due course,” Mutua said, revealing: “The book will be full of truths because I have been in government for eight years and learnt a lot, including secrets that I will be buried with.”
Permanent Secretaries Mohammed wa Mwachai (Wildlife) Kenneth Lusaka (Livestock), John Lonyangapuo (Public Works) and James Nyikal (Gender) also announced formally on Monday that they had quit office in line with section 43(5) of the Elections Act 2011 which dictates that a public officer interested in vying for an elective post must resign six months before elections.
Lusaka is interested in becoming the Governor for Bungoma County while wa Mwachai will be contesting in Kwale. Lonyangapuo is interested in West Pokot’s Senate position.
“I could not leave such a lucrative position to join politics if I know I am going to lose. I am very confident,” Mwachai said.
Immediate former Administration Police Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua relinquished his post on Friday after months of speculation that he was eyeing the Governor’s position in Nakuru County.
“I am proud of the work I have done for the Administration Police and the government as a whole, I am offering myself to serve Kenyans in another capacity,” he said when he left office.
Kivutha Kibwana who served as an advisor to the government also quit to launch his bid for the Makueni County governorship position.
Senior Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Peter Omolo who is vying for the Kisumu County Governor’s post had quit earlier.
Several diplomats including Kenya’s High Commissioner to Australia, Francis Tarus, and his counterpart in Nigeria, Francis Sigei are said to have sent in their quit notices to the Foreign Affairs Ministry here in Nairobi, long before Monday’s deadline.
Nairobi Town Clerk Roba Duba also resigned, barely three months after taking over from Philip Kisia who also quit to vie for Nairobi County Governor’s post.
The Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia said he is compiling a list of all State officers who have resigned.
“We will release all that information once we compile the list, we know quite a number of them have already tendered in their resignations,” he said, adding “it is a demonstration that Kenya is going to have leaders who have experience because they all have experience in management.”
Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno has said all the vacant positions will be filled in due course. Some of the positions, he said, require to be advertised and applicants vetted appropriately.
Presidential aspirant James ole Kiyiapi was the first to give up his position as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education in April to concentrate on his campaigns.
(Additional reporting by Charles Gichane and Margaret Wahito)