Few have quit on matter of principle

Gichugu MP Martha Karua joins a small group of Cabinet ministers who resigned on a matter of principle after disagreeing with the President.

Ten years ago, Mr Simeon Nyachae quit after President Daniel Moi moved him from the Finance ministry to that of Industry. Mr Nyachae saw the transfer as a demotion and opted to resign from the government.

Mr Kibaki also quit the Moi government in 1991 to form the opposition outfit Democratic Party ahead of the 1992 elections. The period was marked by resignations of ministers who formed different political parties.

Earlier, Mr Kenneth Matiba had quit as minister for Transport and Communications in December 1988. He had disagreed with Mr Moi over that year’s Kanu elections which were rigged.

And in 1996, Mr John Koech briefly resigned as Works minister after he was snubbed during a presidential function in Kericho. Mr Kipkalya Kones, who was then just an MP, was allowed to address the crowd while Mr Koech was left out.

Mr Koech drove to the Nation Nakuru Bureau to announce his resignation. He rescinded the decision a few days later.

However, while Ms Karua’s resignation is seen as a matter of principle, most ministers have walked out of government for political reasons. Other resignations have involved Cabinet ministers who defected from their political parties.

Political parties

Those in this group include Mr Raila Odinga, who led his National Democratic Party troops out of a merger with Kanu during the final days of the Moi regime.

The walk out was as a result of the declaration of deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta as Kanu presidential candidate in the 2002 polls. Others who resigned included long serving Kanu ministers Joseph Kamotho, George Saitoti and Kalonzo Musyoka.

In 2006, Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi and Internal Security (then in Education) minister Saitoti resigned after they were adversely mentioned in the Anglo Leasing and Goldernberg scandals respectively. They were later re-appointed to Cabinet.