Mwangi Kiunjuri, the man who takes over at the Ministry of Devolution and Planning, has been much talked about since he was nominated, with good reason.
The former tout, who settled for the job despite having a degree, put down the chalk in 1997, quitting teaching to get into politics as MP for Laikipia East.
From his vetting, it has come to light that the 46-year-old is also a man of means, who is only Sh200 million shy from joining the small club of Kenyan billionaires.
Without giving specifics, Kiunjuri declared that his vast wealth comes mainly from landholdings and buildings in Nanyuki, Sagana and Nairobi.
Before venturing into politics, the father of two taught at Dr Kiano Boys School, Kangema High School and Kiarithaini High School between 1983 and 1997.
The Moi University Bachelor of Education graduate quit teaching at Kiarithaini Secondary School, Nyeri county, in 1997 and was elected MP for Laikipia East on the DP ticket.
The outspoken politician was re-elected in 2002 and 2007 but lost in 2013, when he vied for Laikipia governor.
Kiunjuri is seen as a political asset to President Uhuru Kenyatta, despite not joining TNA but choosing to remain in GNU with Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua in 2013.
His mastery of communicating in the Kikuyu language, especially through proverbs and idioms, is unmatched among Central Kenya politicians of his generation.
Those in the know say Uhuru and Kiunjuri are good friends who have for years shared political ideas, especially in relation to Central Kenya politics.
It is said Kiunjuri had been lined up as one of Uhuru’s witnesses should his case at the International Criminal Court have gone to trial.
ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had said Kiunjuri was among the politicians Uhuru used to distribute money to Mungiki members to carry out retaliatory attacks.
She said Kiunjuri attended post-election violence planning and coordination meetings in January 2008.
Despite being GNU party leader, Kiunjuri asked his supporters to vote for Uhuru but told TNA to keep off his party’s affairs.
“We are not fighting Uhuru but it is wrong for TNA officials to insist that we dissolve our parties and go for joint nominations. Since we do not have a presidential candidate, the man we will support is Uhuru, unless Uhuru himself comes out openly to say that he does not need our support,” he said on September 21, 2012.
But in 2014 Kiunjuri for the first time publicly declared it was time to dissolve GNU and join Uhuru’s Jubilee coalition.
“Our dog did not bring anything home after we went for the hunting expedition. Let us now support the President and governors in their development agenda. TNA is a good party because it is the President’s party,” Kiunjuri said at Mt Kenya Primary School in Nanyuki town on March 8 last year.
GNU is one of the outfits forming Uhuru’s new Jubilee Party ahead of the 2017 elections, when the President will be seeking a second term.
Kiunjuri caused ripples in 2011 when he accused former minister Charity Ngilu and Water PS David Stower of sidelining him.
The then Public Works assistant minister said he alerted Ngilu about dubious tenders awarded by the ministry for several projects and consultancy services but she failed to act.
Kiunjuri has also previously held public office as assistant minister in the ministries of Water and Irrigation, and Energy.
He once served as the organising secretary of the Democratic Youth Congress, representing the party at the International Democratic Union Conference in the United States in 2002.
Kiunjuri served as chairman of the Democratic Youth Initiative, and as vice chair of the Parliamentary Investment Committee during his first term.