Besides the sweeping powers on the oversight of Government programmes handed to Fred Matiang’i by President Kenyatta,Dr Matiang’i was also given a huge chunk of James Macharia’s Transport ministry.
The Interior CS, in President Kenyatta’s Executive Order No. 2 dated the same day as the first, will be in charge of the National Transport and Safety Authority.
This is seen as an attempt to align the President’s transport sector vision with what Dr Matiang’i had been doing with the implementation of the Transport Act, famously known as the “Michuki Rules”.
The rules came about during John Michuki’s tenure as Transport minister.
The interior ministry, in the changes, will also be in charge of motor vehicles inspection and certification, regulation of public service vehicles, development and implementation of road safety strategies, enforcement of the axle road control through weighbridges, as well as regulation and licensing of motor vehicles.
This came as the President also named Matiang’i to chair a Cabinet Committee that would supervise and oversight all government programmes and projects across the country.
The move, which is Executive Order No. 2 of 2019 on Management and Coordination of National Government Transport and Safety, leaves his Transport counterpart James Macharia to largely preside over policy formulation as well as mechanical and transport services.
Macharia has previously been accused of failing to deliver on his mandate, including taming road accidents.
Dr Matiang’i will chair a key committee on the implementation of development programmes, whose membership includes all Cabinet secretaries, the Attorney General and Head of the Public Service, a mandate that a Government insider said essentially elevates him to a “prime minister or chief minister.”
With four years left to his presidency Uhuru is keen to streamline operations within his Cabinet to help deliver the Big Four Agenda.
According to Executive Order number 1 of 2019 signed in Mombasa on Monday, Matiang’i will report to the President.
Matiang’i will now chair the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee whose vice-chairperson will be National Treasury and Planning CS Henry Rotich.
Executive order
Members of the committee include all Cabinet Secretaries, Attorney General Paul Kihara while Head of the Public Service forms the secretariat.
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