Skip to main content

Why Kenyans resign from Lucrative Positions to join Politics

Kenyans have been resigning from lucrative positions in both the private and public sector to seek elective seats.

As Uhuru Kenyatta’s term approaches a tumultuous halt, his employees are uncertain of their job security. 

What baffles mutual logic is why Kenyans quit lucrative positions to join politics. There are higher stakes in politics than other jobs as politicians have the tendency to attract influence, power and money.

There are many politicians who use colossal amounts of money that even exceeds the cumulative salaries to be paid after winning a particular seat. 

The Constitution of Kenya 2010 prohibits public officers from active political engagement. Cabinet Secretaries are classified as State officers hence the restraint on their political engagement. However, we have witnessed a number of Cabinet Secretaries hitting the campaign trail.

Cabinet Resignations

Recently four Cabinet Secretaries resigned to seek gubernatorial positions in the 2022 general elections scheduled to be held on August 9th.  

Among those who quit the Cabinet include John Munyes(Petroleum Ministry), Sicily Kariuki (Water), Adam Mohammed (East African Community) and Charles Keter (Devolution and ASAL). 

Munyes has declared interest to contest as a governor for Turkana County, Sicily is seeking the Nyandarua gubernatorial position, Mohamed is vying for the governor’s seat in Mandera and Keter is seeking to replace Paul Chepkwony as Kericho governor.

Apart from the resignation of CSs, there have also been other resignations from various state and public jobs. 

Nzioka Waita resigned as State House Chief of Staff to contest as the next Machakos Governor. He will square it out with former Transport CAS Wavinya Ndeti. Former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya resigned to join the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial race.

Political Stakes

Politics is all about interests and each politician has his or her own interest to protect. As election date approaches, there arise rampant cases of defections and realignments.

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka recently accused Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula for betraying the course of OKA and joining hands with Deputy President William Ruto.

In Kenya, politicians particularly those with close proximity to State House wield immense powers and control over others. 

During Jubilee’s first term, Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter was captured on video harassing a weigh bridge officers and threatening him with sack after the official barricaded a truck belonging to one female politician.

Apart from presidential race, the position of a County Governor is the most competitive and some MPs will be promoting themselves with the aim of controlling county resources. Ambitious politicians want to control County resources.

However, the gubernatorial position seems to be the most ‘political endangered’ seat. Two governors were impeached by both their respective County assemblies and the Senate. 

Ferdinand Waititu lost his position as Kiambu governor and Mike Sonko lost his Nairobi seat after the Senate approved their impeachment process. Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru managed to save herself after she was sanitized by Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How Musk's Neuralink Blindsight will allow the blind to see

  Scientists are still stunned by Elon Musk's plan to enable blind people to see, using his Neurolink's Brain Computer Interface chip dubbed Blindsight. Neurolink has already partnered with top Spanish scientists and US Santa Barbara to make a device called Blindsight, a smart Bionic Eye powered by brain implants and AI. Blindsight got the approval of the US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA), though there have been no human trials. Musk confided that Neurolink will perform its first human implant of Blindsight at the course of 2025. Will Neurolink's Blindsight allow Blind People to see? Blindsight is designed to enable people with total visual impairment, as a result of damaged optic nerve but with intact visual cortex, to see. This is enhanced by bypassing the optic nerve and stimulating the visual cortex to create a visual perception. Visual cortex is part of the brain that receives, integrates and processes visual information relayed from the retina.  Blindsigh...

How Human Brain will replace Smartphones in communication

Elon Musk envisiges a future where smartphones are obsolete and communication happens directly through the brain.  According to Musk, Neuralink the brain-computer interface that his company is developing, could eventually replace phones entirely. Imagine navigating the internet, sending and receiving text messages, or even making calls, all with just your thoughts. This sounds like fictional science. However, Musk believes the integration of humans and artificial intelligence is a necessary mileage for human evolution.  Neuralink’s potential extends far beyond convenience; it could disrupt the field of medicine, communication and the way we interact with technology forever. The future Musk envisions is not just coming, it's already in the pipeline. NEURALINK will make Smartphones completely obsolete. Neuralink is a company that was found by billionaire Elon Musk and develops brain-computer interface technology. Its goal is to connect the human brain to computers so as t...

Why Matiang'i comeback threatens Ruto's re-election bid

  Former Interior cabinet secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i is a great rival to President William Ruto in his 2027 re-election contest. Matiang'i is set to give Ruto a run for his money, owing to his track record as a cabinet secretary in the previous regime.  Former President Uhuru Kenyatta trusted Matiang'i more than any other cabinet secretary due to his workaholic nature and might be forced to finance his presidential quest.  The former Interior CS is reportedly eyeing the presidential seat on a Jubilee ticket, as alluded by the party's secretary general Jeremiah Kioni. Ruto's dalliance with the doyen of opposition politics and ODM party leader Raila Odinga had complicated the opposition's quest to unseat the sitting Head of State. Matiang'i comeback seals the vaccum left by Raila's departure. Why Ruto might lose Kenya's presidential seat in 2027 Ahead of 2022 general elections in Kenya , President William Ruto promised Kenyans heaven on Earth onl...