Kenya: Kibaki And Raila to Discuss List for AG Position

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Isaac Ongiri

18 July 2011

PRESIDENT Kibaki and Minister Raila Odinga are set to meet this week to finalise discussions on the appointment of the new Attorney General, as Amos Wako prepares for exit in six weeks. Top aides of the two principals are arranging a meeting in which the two will discuss six proposed names being fronted for the office.

The Star has established that the Prime Minister’s office is fronting lawyers Fred Ojiambo or Otiende Amolo as the next holder of the office, while Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura is pushing for Prof Githu Muigai. “Yes the President and the Prime Minister will meet before the end of the week, probably at midweek to discuss Wako’s replacement,” said an influential government insider.

There is likely to be less friction between the President and the PM over the appointments as Raila’s office is said to be less resistant to Prof Muigai’s proposed appointment.

Muigai was among three people controversially appointed by Kibaki before wide protests early in the year forced the President to withdraw the appointments. Others appointed at the time were Justice Alnashir Vishram as the Chief Justice, Kioko Kilukumi as the Director of Public Prosecutions and William Kirwa as Director of Budget.

Vishram’s attempt to secure the job through the JSC interviews flopped as did his further attempt to be part of the Supreme Court.

Yesterday it emerged the Premier wanted to push for the appointed of Otiende Amolo who was part of the Committee of Experts who put together the new constitution.

Otiende, an ally of the PM, has previously ran for the Rarieda constituency seat but lost the ODM nomination. Other candidates lined up for consideration for the top slot are Solicitor General Wanjuki Muchemi who is the current AG’s assistant, human rights lawyer Betty Murungi and former Director of Public Prosecution Phillip Murgor. They have been mentioned among those being talked about, by the President and the Prime Minister’s key aides. Wako will leave office by midnight on August 27 to give room for the new occupant who shall constitutionally be a member of the Cabinet.

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