Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-04-16 08:20:46
In a surprising turn of events, Kenya has made the decision to replace Caroline Mwende Mueke as the nominee for the position of East African Community (EAC) secretary-general. This decision comes just two days before Mueke was expected to be sworn in, and it appears to be influenced by political considerations.
Instead of Mueke, the Kenyan government announced on Monday that Veronica Mueni Nduva will be the new secretary-general of the EAC. This announcement comes ahead of an extraordinary meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers scheduled for Tuesday, April 16th.
Ms. Nduva currently serves as the Principal Secretary in the Department of Performance and Delivery Management in the Ministry of Public Service and hails from Machakos County. In contrast, Mueke, who was nominated in March, was born in Nairobi but her parents are from Kitui County.
The decision to replace Mueke with Nduva is believed to be influenced by a combination of genealogy and party affiliation. Sources suggest that political pressure over the past ten days ultimately led to Nairobi changing its nominee for the position.
In a letter dated April 15, 2024, addressed to Deng Alor Kuol, South Sudan’s minister for EAC affairs and the current chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for EAC Affairs Peninah Malonza provided no specific reasons for the change in nominee. The decision comes just before the Council’s discussions on replacing the outgoing EAC Secretary General, Dr. Peter Mathuki, and the upcoming summit on Thursday of the same week.
Malonza’s letter stated, “Further to our letter of 15 March informing you of a presidential action nominating Ms. Mwende for appointment as the new Secretary-General by the Summit in accordance with the EAC Treaty, we are writing to inform you that the President of Kenya has amended the nomination of Ms. Mwende for the position of EAC Secretary-General. Kenya now presents Ms. Veronica Mueni Nduva for appointment as the Secretary-General of the EAC.”
Despite Mwende’s imminent swearing-in and the scheduled EAC summit, political resistance to her nomination led to the push for Nduva as the preferred candidate, who was seen as aligning with the right party interests.
Overall, the sudden replacement of Mueke with Nduva highlights the intricate dynamics of politics within the EAC and the influence of genealogy and party affiliations on such appointments. The unfolding events leading up to the extraordinary meeting and summit underscore the complex nature of regional politics in East Africa.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
