Dr. Chris Murungaru
The return of the matatu (public transport) chaos has been linked to supremacy fights in President Kibaki’s Government.
Internal Security minister, Mr John Michuki, is being accused of sabotage.
Internal Security minister, Mr John Michuki, is being accused of sabotage.
A reportedly frustrated Transport minister, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, last week told a Parliamentary departmental committee on Energy, Roads and Public Works of what he termed the "truth behind the return of the matatu chaos".
Sources close to the meeting said allegations of sabotage in the enforcement of the "Michuki rules" dominated the proceedings.
Consequently, the House committee resolved to summon Michuki to shed more light on the matter, sources told The Big Issue.
Consequently, the House committee resolved to summon Michuki to shed more light on the matter, sources told The Big Issue.
It is ironical that the brains behind the rules that saw sanity restored on roads after Narc came took over power could be the same ones working to stifle them.
The Mwakwere testimony could be shocker to many Kenyans, especially public transport commuters who bear the brunt of matatu madness. Michuki became a household hero following his almost one-man struggle to streamline the industry.
The Mwakwere testimony could be shocker to many Kenyans, especially public transport commuters who bear the brunt of matatu madness. Michuki became a household hero following his almost one-man struggle to streamline the industry.
The House meeting, which preceded a press conference, later n the week, at which Mwakwere spoke of his difficulties in dealing with the matatu menace, heard that soon after Michuki took over the docket of Internal Security, he sought to make his presence felt by allegedly sabotaging two (first Dr Chris Murungaru and now Mwakwere) of his colleagues at Transcom House.
Michuki was moved on February 14, 2005, in a reshuffle that saw him swap places with Murungaru.
Michuki was moved on February 14, 2005, in a reshuffle that saw him swap places with Murungaru.
And on December 7, 2005, following the Government’s defeat at the November 21 referendum on the proposed constitution, the President unveiled a new-look Cabinet, dropping his close ally Murungaru together with seven others.
Sources said Mwakwere told the meeting, chaired by Baringo Central MP, Mr Gideon Moi, that the problems being witnessed on the roads had nothing to do with his ministry.
When Michuki was appointed Transport minister, Mwakwere is said to have told the committee, he enforced the traffic rules with the assistance of traffic police officers.
When Michuki was appointed Transport minister, Mwakwere is said to have told the committee, he enforced the traffic rules with the assistance of traffic police officers.
This he did following an arrangement with Murungaru, who assigned him Traffic Department officers under the Transport ministry, the committee was told.
"The minister explained to our committee that Michuki was successful because of the support Murungaru gave him by instructing the police to cooperate,’ sources told The Big Issue.
Mwakwere shocked the committee with the claim that the return of the matatu chaos coincided with the departure of Michuki from the Transport ministry.
"The minister explained to our committee that Michuki was successful because of the support Murungaru gave him by instructing the police to cooperate,’ sources told The Big Issue.
Mwakwere shocked the committee with the claim that the return of the matatu chaos coincided with the departure of Michuki from the Transport ministry.
But the arrangement was ended immediately he left for the Office of the President.
Oddly, it would be Murungaru, with whom Michuki had the "mutual arrangement", who was to become the first victim of this alleged treachery.
Oddly, it would be Murungaru, with whom Michuki had the "mutual arrangement", who was to become the first victim of this alleged treachery.
"It is not just Mwakwere who has suffered under Michuki; even Murungaru, who had helped
Michuki, was a victim of the same Michuki," an MP who is a member of the committee and attended the session said.
Withdrew traffic officers
Withdrew traffic officers
The source added: "The minister told us that Michuki withdrew all the traffic police officers working under the Transport ministry."
Michuki directed that the officers report directly to their commanders.
The sources said the action by Michuki was being viewed as a bid to stamp his authority at the security docket.
Michuki directed that the officers report directly to their commanders.
The sources said the action by Michuki was being viewed as a bid to stamp his authority at the security docket.
When The Big Issue contacted Murungaru through his lawyer, Mr Paul Muite, the Kieni MP confirmed that he had entered into a special arrangement with Michuki.
"I can tell you that Murungaru has confirmed what you have just asked me about the enforcement of the traffic rules and the arrangement he had with Michuki when he was at the office of the President," said Muite, the Kabete MP.
"I can tell you that Murungaru has confirmed what you have just asked me about the enforcement of the traffic rules and the arrangement he had with Michuki when he was at the office of the President," said Muite, the Kabete MP.
And a source at the meeting conclusively said: "We concurred with Mwakwere over this matter because nothing has changed and that the police who are responsible for the traffic rules are the ones who ought to be carrying the blame as they are the enforcement organ".
Sources: The East African Standard
Story by Martin Mutua
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