Kibaki reinstates suspended PSs

Four permanent secretaries who were suspended in February to pave way for investigations into alleged abuse of office were reinstated on Thursday.

Dr Mohammed Isahakia of the Office of the Prime Minister, Prof Karega Mutahi of the Ministry of Education, Dr Romano Kiome of the Agriculture ministry and Mr Ali Mohammed of the Special Programmes ministry will now take back their positions after they were cleared by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC).

Also reinstated is the principal administrative secretary in the PM’s office, Mr Caroli Omondi.

Audit report

President Kibaki, on February 13, suspended Dr Isahakia, Dr Kiome, Mr Mohamed and Mr Omondi following a PricewaterhouseCoopers audit report which implicated them in the disappearance of maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board last year.

Prof Mutahi was sent home in the face of the loss of billions of donor funds that were meant for the Free Primary Education programme.

A statement from State House said President Kibaki had reinstated the suspended permanent secretaries after completion of investigations by KACC.

The President also reshuffled other permanent secretaries. Prof Mutahi has been moved to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Local Government. Prof James Ole Kiyiapi is now the Education PS. He was previously the Medical Services PS.

Ms Mary Ngari has been moved to the Ministry of Medical Services as PS. She was previously the PS of the Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and Other Arid Lands.

Mr Ali Dawood Mohamed, previously Ministry of State for Special Programmes PS, is now the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources PS.

Dr Kibicho Karanja has been appointed Ministry of Industrialisation PS. Previously he was chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

Mr Lawrence Lenayapa has been moved to the Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and Other Arid Lands from the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources.

Mr Andrew A. O. Mondoh, who was acting PS, Office of the Prime Minister, has been promoted to Ministry of State for Special Programmes PS.

Ms Leah Gwiyo has been moved to the Ministry of Tourism. She was Ministry of Public Works PS.

Prof John Lonyangapuo, who was Ministry of Industrialisation PS, has been moved to the Ministry of Public Works.

Mr Sammy Kirui and Ms Rebecca Nabutola are the two permanent secretaries who lost their jobs when President Kibaki made the changes.