Security overhaul: Is Joseph ole Lenku on his way out?

President Uhuru Kenyatta acknowledges greetings from wananchi at the Nyayo stadium during a national day. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Kenyatta’s appointment of Major General Philip Kameru to head the National Intelligence Service has revealed his soft spot and trust for military men, coming at a time he is overhauling the security docket in the wake of deadly terror attacks.

The appointment on Thursday, fell into a pattern in which he has picked Retired Major General Gordon Kihalangwa to head the department of Immigrations, as well as posted Major-Gen Joff Otieno as ambassador to Cairo just days after he retired on age grounds. This is the first time since independence that the Directorate of Immigrations, which is seen as key in preventing terrorists from travelling into and out of the country undetected, is being headed by a career soldier.

Kameru is set to replace outgoing NIS boss Michael Gichangi, who resigned under pressure last week.

Those familiar with the new developments said the president was laying the groundwork for the setting up of Homeland Security. Homeland Security is an umbrella term that refers to the convergence of various security departments under one central command to prevent terrorists’ attacks, reduce vulnerability of terrorism and minimise damage from attacks that may occur.

However, at least one security expert warned that populating key positions with military men could backfire and drastically lower the morale of those who had served the nation well. For instance, when appointing Kameru, the president sidestepped eight assistants to Gichangi. It was also pointed out that the military, unlike other civilian security units, lacks the flexibility that would allow it to blend and operate well in a non-military situation.

And yesterday, sources said the president was expected to make further changes to the Cabinet as he revamps security, a major concern because of Kenya’s vulnerability to Somalia’s al Shabaab militants. Sources point to the possibility of creation of three extra cabinet seats, which could finally see Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku replaced by yet another military professional. The name of General Joseph Nkaiserry, now an MP, has prominently featured in this aspect.

Under the new constitution, the president can appoint 22 Cabinet secretaries but he only named 18 when he formed his government last year. This means he still has room to create four more slots.

Security experts believe the direction taken by Kenyatta, which, according to credible sources within government, will be completed when a pending Cabinet reshuffle is done, is aimed at introducing discipline and order as the establishment of Homeland Security takes shape.

RESHUFFLE

Lenku is a career hotelier and former General Manager of Kenya Utalii College, who now finds himself surrounded by career soldiers. He has previously faced criticism over his handling of the Westgate Mall terror attack last September in which more than 60 people died, and numerous other acts of terror in the past year.

Speaking to The Standard on Saturday, Nkaiserry said he was yet to meet the president over the matter, but would be happy to accept an assignment.

“President Kenyatta is a personal friend, I support his government and I can tell you he has not discussed this with me so far. However, if the president feels I would be fit to serve in his Cabinet, then I would not mind only that the process would be long because I have to consult my employer who is the people of my constituency,” he said.

This happened even as it emerged that Jubilee is planning to amend the constitution to give the president a leeway to appoint a member of parliament as a minister should the referendum become a reality.

“The easier way, and I think this is part of the question we shall be presenting in the referendum, is to allow the president to also appoint a minister from among MPs. You see, the loyalty of an MP is to the people, while that of a technocrat minister to the appointing authority,” he said.

Other experts, however, fear that appointments of military professional to head all key security dockets could have negative effects on the morale of non-military officers and the critical civilian intelligence gathering aspect.

“It may look rosy from outside, but it may not be the same internally. You see, this would amount to militarising the security management of the country. In so doing, you lose the civilian critical aspect in intelligence gathering. In the military, we were taught that there is only one way of doing things, we are not as flexible,” Col Benjamin Mwema.  “There is also a morale issue because people work hard to go to the next level so when you bring somebody from outside then you affect the morale of other officers.”

Mwema chairs the Political Parties Collaborative Forum, one of the agencies retained by UNDP to oversee the implementation of national accord following 2007 post-election violence.

But Nkaiserry defended the military appointments saying not only does the president have the sole prerogative of appointing people he can trust, but his recent appointment were the best anybody would have done. “Let me tell you, some people may want to say that the president appointed Kameru because of his ethnic background but that is nonsense. I have worked in the military; I know Kameru’s wealth of experience. He was until his appointment the head of military intelligence. There couldn’t have been a better choice than Kameru in terms of intelligence coordination,” he said.

Mwema predicted that in case of a reshuffle, Lenku could be one of the ministers to be moved.