Amos Kimunya
Encyclopedia
Amos Muhinga Kimunya is a Kenya
n politician and a Member of Parliament for Kipipiri Constituency
, currently serving as Minister of Trade. He was Minister of Finance from 2006 to July 2008, when he resigned due to the Grand Regency Hotel scandal. Previously, he was the Minister of Lands and Settlement.
and immediately migrated to the new Nyandarua District
, Kenya.
He holds a Bachelors Degree in Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Nairobi
. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, K) and a Certified Public Secretary (CPS, K). He previously served as the Chairperson of ICPAK which is the national body of Certified Public Accountants.
(NARC) won the December 2002 general election, President Mwai Kibaki
appointed Kimunya as the Minister of Lands and Settlement. He had been elected Member of Parliament for Kipipiri Constituency. On February 14, 2006 he was appointed as Minister of Finance by President Kibaki following the resignation of David Mwiraria
, who had resigned to pave way for investigation into the Anglo Leasing Scandal.
Kimunya remained Finance Minister in the Cabinet appointed by Kibaki on January 8, 2008, following the controversial December 2007 election
. After a power-sharing agreement was reached between Kibaki and Raila Odinga
, both of whom claimed victory in the presidential election, Kimunya retained his post in the Grand Coalition Cabinet named on April 13, 2008.
On July 2, 2008, Kimunya lost a parliamentary vote of no confidence, which was based on concerns related to the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel
. It was alleged that the hotel was sold for far less than its actual value when it was purchased by a Libya
n company. In his defense, Kimunya asserted that he had a clean record of fighting corruption.
Kimunya resigned from the cabinet on 8 July 2008 to pave way for an independent commission to investigate the sale, in which he was involved, after intense public pressure for him to resign over his role in the sale of the hotel. A few days prior to his resignation, he had vowed to remain in his post and fight any attempt to force his resignation, going so far as to announce "I would rather die than resign!" Therefore, his resignation came as a surprise to many.
On 25 November 2008, an official inquiry cleared Kimunya of any wrongdoing. The commission's report was not made public.
Kimunya was reappointed to the cabinet by President Kibaki as Minister of Trade on 23 January 2009.
On August 15, 2009 his guard was shot dead by gangsters while driving Nairobi. Kimunya was not at the scene.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n politician and a Member of Parliament for Kipipiri Constituency
Kipipiri Constituency
Kipipiri Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of four constituencies in Nyandarua District. The constituency has four wards, all of which elect councillors for the Nyandarua County Council. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :-...
, currently serving as Minister of Trade. He was Minister of Finance from 2006 to July 2008, when he resigned due to the Grand Regency Hotel scandal. Previously, he was the Minister of Lands and Settlement.
Early life and education
Kimunya was born in Murang'aMurang'a
Murang'a is a town in Central Province of Kenya. The town was previously called Fort Hall. It is the administrative centre of Murang'a District and is mainly inhabited by the Kikuyu community....
and immediately migrated to the new Nyandarua District
Nyandarua District
Nyandarua District is an administrative district in the Central Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Ol Kalou. Formerly the capital was Nyahururu, but it is now part of the Laikipia District. Nyandarua District has population of 479,902 and an area of 3,304 km²...
, Kenya.
He holds a Bachelors Degree in Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Nairobi
University of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi is the largest university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution goes back to 1956, it did not become an independent university until 1970 when the University of East Africa was split into three independent universities: Makerere University in...
. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, K) and a Certified Public Secretary (CPS, K). He previously served as the Chairperson of ICPAK which is the national body of Certified Public Accountants.
Political career
When the National Rainbow CoalitionNational Rainbow Coalition
The National Rainbow Coalition was a coalition of Kenyan political parties in power from 2002 and 2005 when it fell apart in a controversy between its wings about a constitutional referendum.-Formation:...
(NARC) won the December 2002 general election, President Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
appointed Kimunya as the Minister of Lands and Settlement. He had been elected Member of Parliament for Kipipiri Constituency. On February 14, 2006 he was appointed as Minister of Finance by President Kibaki following the resignation of David Mwiraria
David Mwiraria
David Mwiraria was the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources previously Finance Minister of Kenya until December 2007 when Kenya held its General Elections...
, who had resigned to pave way for investigation into the Anglo Leasing Scandal.
Kimunya remained Finance Minister in the Cabinet appointed by Kibaki on January 8, 2008, following the controversial December 2007 election
Kenyan presidential election, 2007
A presidential election was held as part of the Kenyan general election on December 27, 2007; parliamentary elections were held on the same date. Incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner and sworn in on December 30, despite opposition leader Raila Odinga's claims of victory...
. After a power-sharing agreement was reached between Kibaki and Raila Odinga
Raila Odinga
Raila Amollo Odinga , also popularly known to Kenyans as Agwambo, is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as the Prime Minister of Kenya in a coalition government. He has served as a Member of Parliament for Langata since 1992, was Minister of Energy from 2001 to 2002, and was Minister of Roads,...
, both of whom claimed victory in the presidential election, Kimunya retained his post in the Grand Coalition Cabinet named on April 13, 2008.
On July 2, 2008, Kimunya lost a parliamentary vote of no confidence, which was based on concerns related to the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel
Grand Regency Scandal
Erupting in June 2008, the Grand Regency Scandal concerns the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel in Downtown Nairobi, Kenya, from the Central Bank of Kenya to an unspecified group of Libyan investors called "Libya Arab African Investment Company"...
. It was alleged that the hotel was sold for far less than its actual value when it was purchased by a Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
n company. In his defense, Kimunya asserted that he had a clean record of fighting corruption.
Kimunya resigned from the cabinet on 8 July 2008 to pave way for an independent commission to investigate the sale, in which he was involved, after intense public pressure for him to resign over his role in the sale of the hotel. A few days prior to his resignation, he had vowed to remain in his post and fight any attempt to force his resignation, going so far as to announce "I would rather die than resign!" Therefore, his resignation came as a surprise to many.
On 25 November 2008, an official inquiry cleared Kimunya of any wrongdoing. The commission's report was not made public.
Kimunya was reappointed to the cabinet by President Kibaki as Minister of Trade on 23 January 2009.
On August 15, 2009 his guard was shot dead by gangsters while driving Nairobi. Kimunya was not at the scene.
External links
- http://www.parliament.go.ke/MPs/members_kimunya_m.php