• Prof Kindiki was the youngest and second Kenyan to earn a PhD in Law in 2003.
• Business Review Africa says he has made many milestones in his current role.
Image: MOINA
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki is among nominees for Africa’s 50 Trailblazers by Business Review Africa.
He has been nominated alongside Equity Bank Group managing director and CEO James Mwangi who was the last Kenyan to be named to the prestigious list.
The other nominees are Nigerian politician Peter Obi, Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan, Gabon Vice President Christiane Ossouka, South African envoy in Lagos Bobby Moroe, and AUDA-NEPAD CEO Gloria Akobundu, among others.
The Business Review Africa hails the Interior CS as one of Kenya’s most eminent scholars “with vast experience and encyclopaedic knowledge of public and international law.
“Kindiki has scored several firsts in several fronts thus far,” the paper reads in part, listing his journey from back in Irunduni village where he was born 51 years ago.
Among the milestones, BR Africa cited was in 2003 when the former Tharaka Nithi Senator became the youngest and second Kenyan to earn a PhD in Law.
The first to attain the qualification was the late Bonaya Godana, who once served as Foreign Affairs minister in the Moi administration.
Kindiki is further hailed by the review team for introducing more than 12 bills in the Senate including the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2013 on sharing of revenue among county governments.
He is also being celebrated for moving the Land Bill, of 2013, the Kemsa Bill, of 2013, and the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill of 2014 among other legislations.
Business Review Africa further notes that the Interior CS has made significant milestones in his new role within the first days of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“Within days, Prof Kindiki has managed to strategically deploy personnel in all affected parts of Nairobi thus ensuring the residents were safe.”
“Under Prof Kindiki, the threat of terrorism was confronted headlong resulting in disruption of several terror plots and the arrest of dozens of suspected terrorists,” the paper adds.
Business Review Africa also hails Kindiki for stepping up border patrols that have increased surveillance of illicit arms as well as for progress made in clamping down on cattle rustlers.
“His rapid response saw nearly 60 per cent recovery of all livestock stolen across the ten counties where rampant cattle rustling was reported.
“In the first 100 days of office, Prof Kindiki has managed to decrease crimes in Kenya by up to 13.5 per cent,” the paper reads.
The paper has also named the installation of a universal personal identifier and a digital identity card rolled out by the ministry to ease population services.
The system will aggregate all the identification needs for public services. BR Africa further pointed out the fast-tracking of residency approvals for 1,698 applicants as a milestone.
“Some of these applications had been held up for unexplained reasons, including for one resident who has lived in Kenya for 75 years,” the reviewers said.
BR Africa adds, “It is not a wonder that recent opinion polls conducted by independent pollsters in Kenya continue to place Prof Kindiki as the most performing minister in Kenya ahead of his Cabinet peers.”
A recent Tifa poll rated the Interior CS as best performing at 26 per cent, followed by his Education counterpart Ezekiel Machogu at 10 per cent, and four per cent for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.