Kenya Ministers’ profiles

James Orengo Lands

UGENYA MP, Mr James Orengo is a lawyer and a former presidential candidate in the 2002 General Election. He went to Ambira Primary School and Alliance High School. He graduated in 1974 from the University of Nairobi, with a degree in Law.

He first went to Parliament in 1979 in a by-election. Orengo was part of the team that drafted the two Bills that created the office of the Prime Minister and paved way for the power sharing deal. He is also a member of the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee.

Najib Balala Tourism

MVITA MP, Mr Najib Balala was born in 1967 and went to Serani Primary School in Mombasa and Kakamega High School. He trained in Business Administration overseas. He came into the public limelight when he became Mombasa mayor in 1998. He won the Mvita seat in 2002. He was President Kibaki’s Sports and Heritage minister for about three years before he was sacked after he teamed up with rebel ministers who voted against the Government side during the 2005 constitutional referendum.

Joseph Nyagah Co-operative Development

ODM Pentagon member, Mr Joseph Nyagah, is an old boy of Alliance High School and has a Masters degree in Business Administration. Nyagah served as Kenya’s ambassador to the European Union for four years. He captured the Gachoka seat in 1997 and was appointed Information and Broadcasting minister in the Kanu Government. In last year’s election, Nyagah lost the Gachoka seat to PNU’s Rev Mutava Musyimi. ODM has nominated him to Parliament.

William Ruto Agriculture

ELDORET North MP, Mr William Ruto was born at Kamagut village, Uasin Gishu District in December 1966. He went to Eldoret’s Wareng High School for his O levels before proceeding to Kapsabet Boys High School for A levels. Ruto graduated in 1990 with a BSc Degree Botany and Zoology. He was first elected to Parliament in 1997 on a Kanu ticket. Ruto served in the Cabinet for a few months before Narc trounced Kanu in the 1997 elections. Ruto later joined ODM where he was a menber of the Pentagon team.

Simon Lesirma Assistant Minister, Provincial Administration & Internal Security

SIMEON Lesirma’s interest in politics can be traced to his days as a civil servant. He was a PS until 2002 when he joined politics. Considered to represent the minority in Parliament, the civil servant turned-politician is well known for his fight for the rights of the Samburu. In 1987, Lesirma was the Director of Aerodromes. Before joining politics he served as a PS in the ministries of Environment and Natural Resources, Finance, Livestock Development, Transport and Communication and Education.

David Musila Assistant Minister, Defence

The Mwingi South MP and former career civil servant, Mr David Musila, rose through the ranks of the Civil Service to become a PC. He retired and plunged into politics in 1997.

Musila began his career as a DO and rose through the ranks to become the Central Province PC. He retired in 1989. He was appointed one of the temporary Deputy Speakers to help the Speaker in Parliament in the Eight Parliament (1997-2002). And in a show of confidence, the House elected him Deputy Speaker in the Ninth Parliament after the 2002 General Election.

William ole Ntimama National Heritage & Culture

MR William ole Ntimama, 78, is one of the most experienced MPs in the Tenth Parliament. Born in 1930, Ntimama, who was a councilor and a powerful Narok County Council chairman, was first elected to Parliament in 1988 and former President Moi appointed him Supplies and Marketing minister. In 1992, he was retained in the Moi Cabinet, but in 2002, he decamped and joined Narc through the Liberal Democratic Party. He was not appointed to the Cabinet in 2003, but he was to be picked as Public Service minister in the 2004.

Omingo Magara Assistant Minister, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

James Omingo Magara joined politics almost by default. The former taxman stepped out of the shadows to take over the political mantle from his elder brother, Enoc Magara, who died in a road accident on the Kisii-Kisumu highway in 2001. Born on December 24, 1961 in West Mugirango, Gucha District, Magara was a civil servant. He worked at the Ministry of Finance and later relocated to the KRA where he retired in 2000 as a Senior Assistant Commissioner. He worked at the ministry of Finance.

Musalia Mudavadi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government

Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi was born on September 21, 1960 in Sabatia, Vihiga District. He ventured into politics in 1989 following the death of his father, Mr Moses Budamba Mudavadi. Upon his election, President Moi appointed him minister for Supplies and Marketing. He has gone down in Kenya’s history as the shortest serving Vice-President after Moi appointed him only weeks to the 2002 General Elections.

Moses Wetangula Foreign Affairs

MR Moses Wetangula, the Sirisia Member of Parliament, was born on September 13th, 1956. A lawyer by profession and a practising advocate, Wetangula was a civil servant before venturing into active politics. Before his nomination as a Kanu MP after 1997 General Election, he served as a magistrate and chairman of Electricity Regulatory Board. He was in Parliament as a nominated MP until the 2002 General Election.

Joseph Nkaissery Assistant Minister Defence

NKAISSERY went to Ilbisil Primary School before joining Olkejuado High School in 1967. He later joined Kenyatta University. He dropped out of university in 1972 to join the Army where he served for 32. The legislator is among Kenyans with high ratings in international military trainings. He joined politics when he quit the military in 2002 and won the Kajiado Central seat for Kanu. He was made the Shadow Minister for Defence.

Christopher Obure Public Works

MR CHRISTOPHER Mogere Obure is one of the experienced politicians from Kisii. Obure, now in his 60s, has served in many ministries — Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Finance. In 1999, he was appointed Industry minister. The following year, he was appointed Minister for Agriculture and then Foreign Affairs. He will be remembered as the last Finance Minister for the Moi regime.

Fred Gumo Regional Development Authorities

WESTLANDS MP, Mr Fred Gumo, once served as Assistant minister in the Office of the President. He started his political career in 1974, when he was elected a councilor in Kitale. He became Kitale Mayor in 1976. In 1979, he was elected MP for Kitale. His second term was cut short by a successful petition against him by the late Masinde Muliro. Former President Daniel Moi appointed him chairman of the City Commission in 1989.

Dalmas Otieno Public Service

A MAKERERE University trained economist, Mr Dalmas Otieno brings to the coalition Cabinet a wealth of experience. Otieno served as a minister in various ministries in the former Kanu regime between 1988 and 1992. Last year he won the Rongo parliamentary seat, defeating Mr Ochillo Ayacko. Now in his 50s, Dalmas is an eloquent orator and a skilful negotiator. He is also widely experienced in Government issues.

Anyang’ Nyong’o Medical Services

PROF Anyang’ Nyong’o was born on October 10, 1945 in Seme, Kisumu Rural. He studied Political Science at Makerere University before proceeding to Chicago University in the US where he obtained MA and PhD degrees. He first won the Kisumu Rural seat in 1992. He recaptured the seat in 2002 on a Narc ticket. In 2003, President Kibaki appointed him the Minister for Planning and National Development.

Sally Kosgei Higher Education, Science and Technology

DR Sally Kosgei occupied the top position of Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet under Presidents Moi and Kibaki. She was born in 1949. Kosgei went to Aldai Girls Primary School, Alliance Girls High School, The University of Dar es Salaam and then Stanford University in the US. She first taught at the University of Nairobi before moving to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kosgei served as the Kenyan High Commissioner to the UK.

Kiraitu Murungi Energy

KIRAITU Murungi, Member of Parliament for Imenti South, was among human rights’ lawyers who were targeted for detention because of their constant attacks on the Kanu Government. He went into exile in America between 1990 and 1992 and came back after the repeal of Section 2A of the Constitution and joined politics. He served as Justice and Constitutional Affairs. He was then moved to Energy.

John Michuki Environment and Mineral Resources

MR John Njoroge Michuki was born in 1932 in Iyego, Kangema. He rose through the ranks in the Civil Service from a District Assistant in 1957 to Treasury PS and Cabinet Minister. Before entering politics, Michuki served in various boards, including the Central Bank of Kenya. He will be remembered for his tough stand when he was the Minister for Roads and Public Works.

Charity Ngilu Water and Irrigation

CHARITY Ngilu, 56, and a mother of three, rose from obscurity in 1992 to unseat former Cabinet minister, Mr George Ndotto, as Member of Parliament for Kitui Central. In 1997 she vied for the presidency on a Social Democratic Party ticket. In 2002, the former Health minister was instrumental in the formation of Narc which eventually ended the 40-year Kanu rule.

Chirau Ali wakwere Transport

MATUGA MP, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, was born in 1945 at Golini, Kwale District. During the 2002 General Election, he tried his hand in elective politics and won. He was appointed Foreign Affairs Assistant minister and then elevated to the Cabinet as Minister for Labour. He was moved to Foreign Affairs and later Transport. He was re-appointed to the same ministry this year. Yesterday, Mwakwere retained the Transport portfolio.