Uhuru appoints Lee Kinyanjui to steer BBI agenda in Nakuru

As the Building Bridges Initiative debate gathers momentum, new political realignments are taking shape.

Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta met Kikuyu Council of Elders at Gicheha Farm in Nakuru Town to discuss the BBI report. Politicians seen to be opposing the BBI were not invited to the meeting.  

It turned out that Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, who played a prominent role in coordinating the meeting attended by more than 400 elders, is now the president’s pointman in the county.

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During the event, Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika and Nakuru East MP David Gikaria did not attend the function. Mr Kinyanjui and Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama have become close to the president. 

In the recent Cabinet reshuffle, President Kenyatta appointed lawyer Lawrence Karanja, a confidant of Governor Kinyanjui, Chief Administrative Secretary for Industrialisation.

Mr Karanja’s appointment in the key docket is a big boost for Mr Kinyanjui who is rushing against time to fulfil his election promises.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Mr Kinyanjui will be seeking to capitalise on mega national government development projects including the Naivasha Dry Port, proposed Nakuru International Airport, Itare Dam and revitalisation of the pyrethrum sector to improve his development record.

Political analysts in Nakuru region see the governor as the man to push Mr Kenyatta’s BBI agenda in the county.

“With the falling-out of politicians (Kimani) Ngunjiri and Senator (Susan) Kihika and David Gikaria who are no longer the darling of the President, Mr Kinyanjui is now the president’s pointman in Nakuru. He has been tasked to spearhead the BBI and development projects in Nakuru,” a senior government official who requested not to be named said.

Speaking to Nation, Mr Kinyanjui exuded confidence on his new role of steering the BBI in the county.

He said: “I’m equal to the task and I have no record of abandoning the community, the President and residents of Nakuru at the eleventh hour like other political noisemakers.”

 “We are planning a major meeting that will harmonise views of all the political leaders including residents with divergent views,” said Mr Kinyanjui.

BBI AGENDA

Senior Kikuyu Council of Elders officials told the Nation that Mr Kinyanjui was endorsed as President Kenyatta’s key man in Nakuru.

Nakuru Kikuyu Council of Elders Chairman Samuel Kimani Maigua said that President Kenyatta directed Governor Kinyanjui to work with the elders to push his BBI agenda.

The coordinator of Nakuru County Peace Process Andrew Yatich and the chairperson of Kalenjin Council of Elders Josiah Ruto said the appointment of Mr Kinyanjui was welcomed. They urged him to ensure all communities are on board.

Chairperson of the Rift Valley Council of Elders Gilbert Kabage said there was nothing wrong with Governor Kinyanjui becoming the president’s pointman in Nakuru.

He urged the president to invest on good advisers and not political sycophants.

Rift Valley Council of Elders Secretary Peter Charagu said the choice of Mr Kinyanjui as Mr Kenyatta’s pointman was ill-advised.

 “Mr Kinyanjui is facing stiff political opposition and he is likely to spend more time fighting for his survival rather than popularising BBI,” said Mr Charagu.

REMAINED STEADFAST

The coordinator of the Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance Masese Kemunche said Governor Kinyanjui has avoided controversies around Kieleweke and Tangatanga groups.

 “He has remained steadfast in supporting the President. He has never criticised or pointed an accusing finger to the President and this tells you the relationship between the two has been cordial and that is why the President has entrusted him with such a crucial responsibility of steering BBI in the county,” said Mr Masese.

He added: “Unlike other politicians in Nakuru, Mr Kinyanjui has balanced his political loyalty without antagonising the President and his deputy.”

DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

The secretary of Luo Council of Elders in Nakuru Omondi Ogada and a Kalenjin elder Bidii arap Too said the appointment of Mr Kinyanjui as the coordinator of BBI in Nakuru was a right move.

“Governor Kinyanjui should be given a chance to spearhead BBI as he is not known to play petty politics,” said Dr Ogada.

Political analysts say he will have to burn the midnight oil to stop the onslaught of politicians who are out to frustrate his development agenda.

It now remains to be seen how Mr Kinyanjui will juggle the two roles of fulfilling his election promises and living up to the new political task handed over by the President.