By Oliver MathengeUhuru trying to navigate Maasai politics
It is emerging that President Uhuru Kenyatta may not be replacing Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku any time soon, despite his widely perceived failure in handling the docket.
Multiple sources within government have told the Star that initial plans to move Lenku and also create a Ministry of Homeland Security have been put on hold.
However, there are plans by Jubilee operatives to send a petition to Parliament seeking the removal of Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.
The decision to suspend the changes is said to have been pushed by a key and powerful security official around the President who believes it is "not necessary and helpful".
According to sources, this is straining the relationship between Uhuru's TNA and Deputy President William Ruto's URP, which has been insisting on the changes.
To many TNA strategists, the security lapses in the country are the result of a failure in command and coordination of the police, which is not in the hands of the CS.
Uhuru cannot fire Kimaiyo unless a petition is passed by a two-thirds majority of MPs to form a tribunal for his removal from office.
"The law ties the President's hands, as he cannot act outside the National Police ServiceIT is emerging that President Uhuru Kenyatta may not be replacing Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku any time soon, despite his widely perceived failure in handling the docket. Multiple sources within government have told the Star that initial plans to move Lenku and also create a Ministry of Homeland Security have been put on hold. However, there are plans by Jubilee operatives to send a petition to Parliament seeking the removal of Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo. The decision to suspend the changes is said to have been pushed by a key and powerful security official around the President who believes it is "not necessary and helpful".
According to sources, this is straining the relationship between Uhuru's TNA and Deputy President William Ruto's URP, which has been insisting on the changes.
To many TNA strategists, the security lapses in the country are the result of a failure in command and coordination of the police, which is not in the hands of the CS.
Uhuru cannot fire Kimaiyo unless a petition is passed by a two-thirds majority of MPs to form a tribunal for his removal from office.
"The law ties the President's hands, as he cannot act outside the National Police Service Act. But anyone can initiate the process through a petition. This is a process that is being considered as a priority," a source within the Presidency said.
Another senior government official said that re- moving Lenku is both a political and administrative decision that must be weighed carefully.
"Look at it this way. The lapses in security are more in command than administration. For instance, the police budgets were transferred to the IG's office and are no longer controlled by OP [the Office of the President].
This means that the Police Service has the resources to conduct security affairs," the source said. "When there is a lapse in security, this is not because there are no resources.
This is because there are operational issues and the command structure is clear. The CS is not part of the command structure," the official, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, said.
Enquiries by the Star have established the political backlash that Jubilee expects from removing Lenku is also a key consideration in the matter.
The Maa political class is said to believe that the position belongs to them and they therefore do not see how there can be a CS from another part of the country in the Interior docket.
Talks with the leaders from the area are also said to have stalled after the preferred replacement, Kajiado South MP Joseph Nkaissery, allegedly declined the offer.
He is a retired KDF general. Another source within the Presidency told the Star that if the President moves Lenku, he will be under pressure to review other dockets.
"Every ministry has had an issue and, therefore, the President would have to make changes in the entire Cabinet. This is likely to disrupt government operations. Remember how cumbersome the vetting process of these appointments is," he said.
Uhuru has been under pressure to make changes in the security dockets, with the opposition specifically asking that Lenku and Kimaiyo quit in the face of serial security lapses that have resulted in bloody attacks, leaving hundreds dead in a matter of months.