Murage back as Mwai Kibaki makes office changes

Former President Mwai Kibaki

Former President Mwai Kibaki has reorganised his core team to enhance the impact of programmes and activities of his office.

The new team comprises Dr Stanley Murage — a close associate of Kibaki — who re-takes his former role of Advisor on Policy and Programmes. He is expected to offer general oversight of Kibaki’s official affairs and, whenever necessary, matters personal.

Before he held that position in Kibaki’s days as President, Dr Murage was a Permanent Secretary in various ministries -- Labour, Transport and Public Works.

Taking over as Private Secretary is Ngari Gituku, who is not new to the Kibaki camp since the latter’s days as President. Gituku had been seconded to the Government Advertising Agency (GAA) as the director since March 2017. During his detour at GAA, Gituku remained as Kibaki’s Head of Communications.

He is now returning as the accounting officer of the third President’s office, charged with taking care of day-to-day affairs of that office, including staff members at the main office and other outposts associated with the retired President.

The immediate former Kibaki’s Private Secretary is Stephen Kirogo, now the new chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC).

A seasoned career civil servant, Kirogo served as the Principal Administration Officer at Cabinet Office where he was the right hand man of Dr Joseph Kinyua, the Head of Public Service. He took over the Kibaki job in early 2017 from Prof Nick Wanjohi.

The new administrator at Kibaki’s office is Michael Mwangi, a tested administrator who rose through the ranks in the Provincial Administration from a cadet, District Officer, District Commissioner and then County Commissioner before he became Secretary Administration at the Ministry of Energy.

Replacing Gituku as the Communications Director is Wangari Kanyongo who moves from KBC.