Uhuru, Muthaura Resign

Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura resigned their positions on Thursday after a four-hour meeting with President Kibaki.Their meeting with President Kibaki came three days after International Criminal Court (ICC) judges ruled that they — along with two other Kenyans — had a case to answer arising from the violence triggered by a dispute over the 2007 General Election. 

Nairobi Metropolitan Development minister Robinson Njeru Githae takes Mr Kenyatta’s place at the Treasury in an acting capacity while Mr Muthaura’s office will be held temporarily by Internal Security permanent secretary Francis Kimemia.During the Harambee House meeting, it is understood that the two informed the President that they wished to step aside pending the outcome of the appeals.The President accepted the requests after which a statement was issued to the media.

“The President has accepted the decision by Uhuru Kenyatta to step aside as the minister for Finance. However Mr Kenyatta will retain his position of Deputy Prime Minister in accordance with the Constitution,” a brief from the Presidential Press Services (PPS) stated.“The President has also accepted the decision by Dr Francis K. Muthaura to step aside as Permanent Secretary,  Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service,” the PPS added.

Mr Mutea Iringo, a deputy secretary at the Office of the President, will act as the Internal Security PS.The decision by Mr Kenyatta and Mr Muthaura, two close confidants of President Kibaki, came on the back of fears that the two would hold fast to their positions. More info click here