George Saitoti
Encyclopedia
Prof. George Kinuthia Saitoti (born 1945) is a Kenya
n politician and mathematician who was Vice President of Kenya from 1989 to 1997 and again from 1999 to 2002. He has been Minister for Internal Security since 2008 and Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010.
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.
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.
in a television address, after accusations that he was involved in the Goldenberg scandal
. The Kenyan High Court ruled on 31 July 2006 that Saitoti should not be charged over the Goldenberg scandal. On 15 November 2006 he was reinstated as Education Minister by Kibaki.
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. 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.
Saitoti has expressed his desire to run for President of Kenya in 2012.
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 mathematician who was Vice President of Kenya from 1989 to 1997 and again from 1999 to 2002. He has been Minister for Internal Security since 2008 and Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010.
Biography and education
George Saitoti is both Maasai, and Kikuyu. by origin. Ironically, Human Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
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.
He studied at Mang'u High School
Mang'u High School
Mang'u High School is a national high school established in 1925, located near Thika, Kenya.-History:The school was started in 1925 by a Dutch priest, Father Witte, C.S.Sp. at Kabaa. In 1939, the school was moved to a new site at Mang'u Village on 22 acres of land and because of accessibility it...
and received his undergraduate education in the U.S. at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
on a Wien Scholarship. Saitoti obtained a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
in 1972 in the area of algebraic topology
Algebraic topology
Algebraic topology is a branch of mathematics which uses tools from abstract algebra to study topological spaces. The basic goal is to find algebraic invariants that classify topological spaces up to homeomorphism, though usually most classify up to homotopy equivalence.Although algebraic topology...
.
On August 30, 2002, Saitoti was dismissed as Vice-President by President Daniel arap Moi
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002.Daniel arap Moi is popularly known to Kenyans as 'Nyayo', a Swahili word for 'footsteps'...
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
Kajiado North Constituency
Kajiado North Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies in Kajiado District. The constituency was established for the 1966 elections...
seat for the NARC
National 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:...
party.
Goldenberg scandal and afterwards
On 13 February 2006 Saitoti's resignation as Minister of Education was announced by President Mwai KibakiMwai 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...
in a television address, after accusations that he was involved in the Goldenberg scandal
Goldenberg scandal
The Goldenberg scandal was a political scandal where the Kenyan government was found to have subsidised exports of gold far beyond standard arrangements during the 1990s, by paying the company Goldenberg International 35% more than their foreign currency earnings...
. The Kenyan High Court ruled on 31 July 2006 that Saitoti should not be charged over the Goldenberg scandal. On 15 November 2006 he was reinstated as Education Minister by Kibaki.
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...
, Saitoti was named Minister of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security in the Office of the President. 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 2007 election, Saitoti retained his post in the grand coalition Cabinet named on April 13, 2008.
Saitoti has expressed his desire to run for President of Kenya in 2012.
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)
- Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs (October 2010 – August 2011)
External links
- http://www.parliament.go.ke/MPs/members_saitoti_prof_g.php
- Research
- Goldenberg a tough test for the maths don