Wednesday’s surprise appointment of Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani as acting Treasury Cabinet Secretary achieved two critical goals in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s determination to shape his legacy in his final term of office.
One, it ensures the President has sufficient time to shop for a substantive replacement for the disgraced Henry Rotich, who left office after he was charged with corruption on Tuesday.
Two, Yattani’s appointment scuttles possible politicisation of the Treasury saga by the two opposing sides in the ruling Jubilee which could play out during parliamentary vetting in case of a fresh nominee.
Yattani would not have to go through fresh vetting since he’s already a Cabinet member.
“Yattani is a safe pair of hands and he’s also non-controversial. We don’t expect any resistance to his appointment either within or outside Treasury,” a State official said yesterday.
Smooth operations
“Appointing him also means all cards remain open to the President for a substantive appointment at the right time,” the source added.
Announcing Yattani’s appointment yesterday, State House spokesperson Kanze Dena said Uhuru made the changes to ensure “smooth operations and continuity at the National Treasury and in line ministries”.
Uhuru also appointed Julius Muia as Principal Secretary National Treasury, to replace Kamau Thugge, who was charged alongside his boss over the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal.
Torome Saitoti, who was serving as PS in the Defence ministry, was moved to the State Department for Planning, while Gordon Kihalangwa who served as PS Immigration replaces him at the Department of Defence.
Kihalangwa’s replacement was not named immediately and Dena said it would be filled in due course.
Muia will also not be subjected to vetting because he was holding a similar positon at Planning.
Yattani’s appointment came amid fears that a leadership vacuum at Treasury after the prosecution of Rotich, Thugge and other top officials could hurt the economy.
According to insiders, the leadership vacuum at the critical ministry had affected many operations with heads of department adopting a wait-and-see approach.
On Tuesday, experts had urged the President to fill the positions immediately to avoid a vacuum.
It emerged that Yattani was not expecting the appointment and was caught by surprise.
“I was chairing a meeting and I had no idea then I started getting messages that something was happening,” he said.
Big Four
He acknowledged that his new assignment was challenging but promised to give it his best to ensure soundness of the economy and success of the President’s Big Four agenda.
“I thank the President for the honour and trust he has bestowed on me by appointing me the acting Cabinet Secretary for Treasury. I promise to do my best in order to realise his dreams of transforming this nation,” he said.
“I will continue supporting the President in my new role and work with my colleagues in Cabinet as we steer towards the realisation of a prosperous nation.”
Reacting to the appointment, Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi, who served as Finance minister under President Daniel arap Moi, said Uhuru may have settled on Yattani as he takes time to reorganise his administration.
“By choosing someone who is in the Cabinet, Uhuru wanted to avoid Jubilee wars that may have sabotaged the appointment of a new Treasury minister,” he told People Daily on phone.
According to Mudavadi, Yattani appears to have been playing above the Jubilee wars that have led to the deterioration of relations between allies of the President and his deputy William Ruto.
Mudavadi’s view is shared by senior State officials who view Yattani as a non-partisan person who will meet “least resistance” as he doesn’t lean towards Tanga Tanga or Kieleweke sides of the Jubilee divide.
“Labour is also not a very busy ministry which gives him ample time to juggle between the two dockets. And having been a governor, it gives him an edge in executing administrative work,” said a State official who cannot be named discussing confidential matters.
The source also said that the new appointee was unlikely to have a difficult time at Treasury because the place has “a very strong technical team” to advise him.
By appointing him in acting capacity, President also gives himself time to shop for his preferred candidate to fill the slot on a permanent basis.
It will also give the President an opportunity to dangle carrots around, thereby keeping power barons tantalised since the position remains vacant.
Political effects
Yattani’s appointment is, however, likely to unsettle Ruto’s allies who had in his pre-election pact with Uhuru agreed to share specific Cabinet posts equally.
Treasury was one of the ministries that was supposed to be headed by a representative from Ruto’s camp, although Rotich was widely thought to have been identified by the President.
With the appointment of Yattani, questions abound about the political ramifications in the ruling party, coming at a time when the DP is increasingly being isolated in government.
For Rotich, his prosecution sets a precedence as he is the first high profile individual that has been arrested and prosecuted while still in office.
It also emerged that he was yet to resign from his position although sources said “a conversation to that effect had taken place and an announcement was expected before end of the week”.
He now has two options ─ to step aside, which will allow him to earn half his salary since he is considered innocent until proven guilty, or resign.
Yattani served as MP for North Horr for nine months, following the plane crash that killed the then MP Bonaya Godana in April 2006.
He has experience in public administration, politics, diplomacy and governance in the public sector since 1992.
