George Saitoti

Prof. George Kinuthia Saitoti (born 1945) is a mathematician, politician, and former Vice President of Kenya. He currently serves as Minister for Internal Security, and has expressed his desire to run for President of Kenya in 2012.

Biography and education

Saitoti claims to be a Maasai, but opponents say he is Kikuyu. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2195285.stm#saitoti "The race to be Kenya's next leader"] , BBC News, September 4, 2002.] Ironically, Human Rights Watch accused him of inciting ethnic violence in the Rift Valley Province during the run-up to the 1992 Kenyan general elections, violence that was mainly directed against the Kikuyu. [ Human Rights Watch (1993), "Divide and Rule: State Sponsored Ethnic Violence in Kenya" ]

He studied at Mang'u High School and received his undergraduate education in the U.S. at Brandeis University on a Wien Scholarship. Saitoti obtained a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Warwick in 1972 in the area of algebraic topology.

On August 30 2002, Saitoti was dismissed as Vice-President by President Daniel arap Moi for disloyalty; Saitoti was also removed from his post as Vice-Chairman of the Kenyan African National Union (KANU). In the December 2002 election, he won the Kajiado North Constituency seat for the NARC party.

Goldenberg scandal

On 13 February 2006 Saitoti's resignation was announced by President Kibaki in a television address, after accusations that he was involved in the Goldenberg scandal. [cite news|title=Kenyan 'graft' ministers resign|date=February 13, 2006|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4710138.stm|accessdate=2006-02-13]

On 31 July 2006, the Kenyan High Court ruled that Saitoti should not be charged over the Goldenberg scandal. [ cite news|title=Kenya's Saitoti escapes charges|date=31 July 2006|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/africa/5232852.stm|accessdate=2006-07-31]

On 15 November 2006 he was reinstated as Education Minister by Kibaki. [ [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1163590381401B255 "Kibaki reinstates ministers after scandal"] , "IOL", 15 November 2006. ]

In the Cabinet appointed by Kibaki on January 8 2008, following the controversial December 2007 election, Saitoti was named Minister of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security in the Office of the President. [ [http://allafrica.com/stories/200801080673.html "Kenya: Kibaki Names Cabinet"] , "The East African Standard" (allAfrica.com), January 8, 2007.] After a power-sharing agreement was reached between Kibaki and Raila Odinga, both of whom claimed victory in the 2007 election, Saitoti retained his post in the Grand Coalition Cabinet named on April 13 2008. [Anthony Kariuki, [http://politics.nationmedia.com/inner.asp?pcat=NEWS&cat=TOP&sid=1787 "Kibaki names Raila PM in new Cabinet"] , nationmedia.com, April 13, 2008.]

Positions

* Minister of Finance (1983 - 1988)
* Vice President (May 1989 - Dec 1997)
* Minister for Planning and National Development (December 1997 - April 1999)
* Vice President (April 1999 - 30 August 2002)
* Minister of Education (January 2003 - November 2005)
* Minister of Education (7 December 2005 - 13 February 2006)
* Minister of Education (November 2006 - January 2008)
* Minister of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security (January 2008 - present)

References

External links

* http://www.parliament.go.ke/MPs/members_saitoti_prof_g.php
* [http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/PEEPS/saitoti_george.html Research]
* [http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=67199 Goldenberg a tough test for the maths don]