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Talk of Town: Powerful PS shocks lawmakers, opposition leader at a crossroads
Parliament Buildings in Nairobi County on August 8, 2024.
Powerful PS shocks lawmakers
Just how powerful is a Principal Secretary in one of the key ministries? Well the PS, despite having been transferred in the recent reshuffles, still has the final say in his previous ministry. So powerful is the man that he recently cancelled a deal that MPs had sealed with the current office holder. The PS, using his previous deep-rooted networks in the ministry, bypassed his predecessor and overturned everything that had been done. He then accommodated his interests instead of those of the MPs. If you are still doubting the power of the PS, he also cancelled a deal that a Cabinet Secretary had sealed in the same ministry.
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Opposition leader at a crossroads
One of the leaders in the united opposition is a man under siege as he ponders about the party ticket to use in the 2027 presidential race. On one hand, the man is being held captive by MPs from his community who insist that he must use a regional party with ethnic support, while on the other hand, his main sponsor prefers a different political outfit. The main backer has apparently made it categorical that he will only bankroll the aspirant if he uses his party and not any other outfit. However, politicians from his community maintain that he will lose votes and fail to consolidate the region if he chooses a different vehicle.
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Chairman left out in ‘eating’ deal
The chairman of a powerful committee in Parliament is clearly not a man in charge of his troops as members negotiated a deal with some witnesses and left him out. So swift was the deal that other members even picked the loot ostensibly on behalf of the chair but never delivered, arguing that he acts “clean” and, therefore, there is no need of sharing with him. The deal was made in order for the committee to proceed with a sensitive matter that the MPs are investigating. After pocketing the money, anytime the chairman starts the discussion in the committee’s WhatsApp group on when to hold a meeting, no member responds, leaving the chair to only converse with the secretariat.
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Minister under fire over sacked officials
A Cabinet Secretary from a restive region is not sitting pretty as residents from his area are blaming him for orchestrating the removal of civil servants from that region from the government. Despite publicly denying the claims after pressure piled on him, elected leaders allied to an outspoken party leader are having a field day accusing the man of enjoying removal of fellow tribesmen from their positions. It remains to be seen if the Cabinet member will finally visit the charged region to convince the residents that his hands are clean.
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Commissioner in a tight spot
A member of a powerful commission is a frustrated man as all his reform proposals have been ignored by cartels in the outfit. The man was told in no uncertain terms during one of the meetings that his work is not to sack people but enjoy privileges that come with being a commissioner. The man had prepared a list of individuals who were to be sent home after they were found to have fake academic papers. However, it turned out that most of those affected are related to a powerful person in the commission. Frustrated that he has been ignored for long, the man is toying with an idea of throwing in the towel.
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Cartels plan to sabotage sport
Despite the change of leadership of a major sports federation, cartels whose candidates lost, are still within the system and have vowed to sabotage the new regime. Our little bird within the training ground of a training camp preparing for a tournament, revealed that even the coach is a man under siege over the selection of players’. The cartels have vowed not to relent until their demands are met and have also vowed to show the team’s technical bench and new officials that they are the ones who call the shots when it comes to all matters involving the sport.
