Francis Kirimi Muthaura (born 20 October 1946 in Meru, Kenya) is a Kenyan former civil servant and close ally of former President Mwai Kibaki. He is the former Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet.[1]

Ambassador Dr.
Francis Kirimi Muthaura
Chairman of the Kenya Revenue Authority
Assumed office
May 2018
1st Secretary General of the East African Community1
In office
July 2000 – 2001
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byAmanya Mushega
Personal details
Born (1946-10-20) 20 October 1946 (age 78)
Meru, Kenya
Alma materUniversity of Nairobi
OccupationRetired
Professioncivil servant
He was the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Commission for East African Co-operation from 1996.

From 14 March 1996 to 24 April 2001 he was the Secretary General of the East African Community.[2] Previously, he held several ambassadorial positions under the rule of former president Daniel arap Moi.

He was appointed the chairman of the board of the Kenyan Revenue Authority by President Uhuru Kenyatta on 25 May 2018.[3][4]

Civil Service career

edit

Muthaura had a long career in the Civil Service. After leaving the University of Nairobi in 1972, he was appointed the District Commissioner of Mombasa District, a position he held until 1973. He was then appointed an Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[5]

Education

edit

He attended Nkubu Secondary School from 1966. In 1968, he joined Nyeri High School. He attended the University of Nairobi from 1969 to 1972 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Economics and Political Science.[6] He also has a Diploma in International Relations, also from the University of Nairobi. He was later appointed Secretary to the cabinet in 2005.

2007 elections

edit

In March 2008, following an agreement between the government and opposition to establish a coalition government to end a political crisis, Muthaura stirred controversy by saying that Kibaki would remain both head of state and head of government. This interpretation of the agreement would mean less power than the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had anticipated for its leader, Raila Odinga, who was expected to become Prime Minister under the deal; the ODM angrily rejected Muthaura's interpretation.[7]

Muthaura has been named as an instigator of post-election violence in 2007 – 2008 and was named among six suspects to be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court.[8] He was accused of leading secret meetings in Kibaki's office, where revenge attacks against supporters of Kibaki's opposition were planned. The ICC prosecutor claimed he authorised the use of excessive force against protesters by the police.[9] He was taped by two people posing as students, who claimed he had admitted involvement in post-election violence.[10] On 11 March 2013, the charges against Muthaura were dropped by the ICC following the discrediting of a key witness.[11]

Succession table

edit
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
None
Secretary General of the East African Community
March 1996 – March 2001
Succeeded by

References

edit
  1. ^ "Uhuru, Muthaura bow to pressure, step aside". Daily Nation. 26 January 2012.
  2. ^ Francis Muthaura Was EAC Secretary General From 1996 to 2001
  3. ^ "Uhuru appoints Muthaura as KRA chairman, Karangi pushed out of KAA". The Star, Kenya. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Francis Muthaura's term as KRA chairperson has been extended".
  5. ^ Daily Nation, 13 April 2003: "The Influential Young Turks of the 60s". Archived from the original on 9 January 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ Bryceson, Deborah Fahy (1 January 2009), "The urban melting pot in east Africa: Ethnicity and urban growth in Kampala and dar es Salaam", African Cities, BRILL, pp. 241–260, doi:10.1163/ej.9789004162648.i-308.67, ISBN 9789004162648, retrieved 21 October 2022
  7. ^ "Protests at Muthaura's power deal talk"[permanent dead link], Daily Nation, 12 March 2008.
  8. ^ Kenya violence 'instigators' named IOL
  9. ^ The six men accused of inciting Kenya's post-election violence CS Monitor
  10. ^ Muthaura distances self over taped conversation on post-election chaos Standard
  11. ^ "ICC drops charges against Muthaura". Daily Nation. Agence France-Presse. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
edit