Kalonzo Musyoka
Encyclopedia
Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (born December 24, 1953) is a Kenya
n politician
, currently serving as Vice President of Kenya. Musyoka served in the government under President Daniel arap Moi
and was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1993 until 1998; subsequently, under President Mwai Kibaki
, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs again from 2003 to 2004, then Minister of the Environment from 2004 to 2005. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2007 presidential election
, after which he was appointed as Vice-President by Kibaki in January 2008. He also serves as Chief Commissioner for The Kenya Scouts Association.
) in Kenya's Eastern Province
. Between 1960 and 1967 he studied at Tseikuru Full Primary School. Then he went to Kitui High School in Kitui
and eventually to Meru High School in Meru
from where he graduated in 1973. Kalonzo Musyoka graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nairobi
in 1977. He continued further studies at the Kenya School of Law
and Mediterranean Institute of Management in Cyprus
.
(KANU). However, only two years later, in 1985 the Kitui North seat was vacated and Musyoka won subsequent by-elections, thus becoming an MP at the age of 32. In 1986 he was appointed Assistant Minister for Works. He was re-elected at the 1988 parliamentary elections. He was KANU's National Organizing Secretary from 1988 to 1998.
Kenya's first multiparty elections were held in 1992. Musyoka stayed in KANU, renewed his parliamentary position and was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He also held couple of other ministerial positions while part of the KANU government. He was again elected to the parliament at the 1997 elections, but now from Mwingi North Constituency
, since his former constituency Kitui North was split into new constituencies MP.
In the months leading up to the 2002 general election, under the leadership of then KANU secretary general, Raila Odinga
, he decamped from KANU to join the Liberal Democratic Party
(LDP) under the banner of the National Rainbow Coalition
, which went on to win the general elections.
Musyoka became Minister for Foreign Affairs for a second time under President Mwai Kibaki
, but in a cabinet reshuffle on June 30, 2004 he was moved to the post of Minister for the Environment. In late August 2004, he was additionally removed from his position as chairman of the Sudanese and Somali peace talks and was replaced by John Koech
. Musyoka was reportedly unhappy with President Kibaki's refusal to honour a pre-election Memorandum of understanding (MOU) which they had signed with the president's party NAK
. He was one of the leaders of the successful "No"-campaign in the November 2005 referendum on the proposed new constitution. Following the referendum, he was dismissed from the Cabinet.
Subsequently Kalonzo Musyoka decamped Liberal Democratic Party
(LDP) into the little known Labor Party of Kenya.
Kalonzo Musyoka was widely expected to vie for the presidency in the December 2007 election
. Musyoka campaigned for the ODM-Kenya ticket, facing a number of other contenders. His rating for December 2007 election steadily dropped, and political analysts wondered whether he would make a significant impact. His relationship with fellow ODM-Kenya leader Raila Odinga
, who was also after the ODM-Kenya presidential ticket, was the subject of much speculation. Many observers questioned whether the presidential hopefuls of ODM-Kenya, particularly Raila and Musyoka, could unite to support one common candidate for the general election.
The ODM-Kenya split into two factions, one gathered around Musyoka and the other around Odinga, in August 2007. Musyoka was elected by his faction as its presidential candidate on August 31, 2007, receiving 2,835 votes in a secret ballot against Julia Ojiambo, who received 791 votes.
Musyoka has been quoted as saying "... the war against poverty could not be won unless environmental issues were addressed."
Musyoka launched his presidential campaign
at Uhuru Park
in Nairobi on October 14, 2007.
According to official results, Musyoka placed a distant third behind Kibaki and Odinga with 9% of the vote. Amid a violent crisis over the results, with supporters of Kibaki and Odinga disputing the outcome, Kibaki appointed Musyoka as Vice-President and Minister of Home Affairs on January 8, 2008. Musyoka expressed gratitude to Kibaki and, referring to the ongoing dispute and violence, said that he was "intensely aware that the appointment has come at a difficult time when our nation is going through a painful moment". He took office as Vice-President on January 9.
The political crisis eventually led to the signing of a power-sharing agreement between Kibaki and Odinga. In the Grand Coalition Cabinet that was announced on April 13, 2008, Musyoka remained Vice President and Minister of Home Affairs.
In 2010 Musyoka supported the draft constitution in the campaign for August 4th referendum
but Members of the campaign team opposing the draft constitution claimed that he was secretly opposing the draft leading to a satirical comparison of Musyoka to a watermelon which is naturally green outside and red inside, the team supporting the draft constitution was represented by color green while the team opposing the draft constitution was represented by the color red hence the "green team" and the "red team", Musyoka's nickname watermelon was because of his alleged open support for the green team and secret support for the red team.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, currently serving as Vice President of Kenya. Musyoka served in the government under 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'...
and was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1993 until 1998; subsequently, under 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...
, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs again from 2003 to 2004, then Minister of the Environment from 2004 to 2005. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2007 presidential 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 which he was appointed as Vice-President by Kibaki in January 2008. He also serves as Chief Commissioner for The Kenya Scouts Association.
Early life
He was born in Tseikuru, in a remote part of Mwingi District (then part of Kitui DistrictKitui District
Kitui District is an administrative district in the Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kitui. The district has a population of 515,422 and an area of 20,402 km² .- Government :...
) in Kenya's Eastern Province
Eastern Province (Kenya)
The Eastern Province of Kenya is one of seven regions of the country. Its northern boundary is with Ethiopia; the North Eastern Province and Coast Province lie to the east and south; and the remainder of Kenya's provinces, including Central Province, run along its western border. The provincial...
. Between 1960 and 1967 he studied at Tseikuru Full Primary School. Then he went to Kitui High School in Kitui
Kitui
Kitui is a town in Kenya, 130 kilometers east of Nairobi and 75 kilometers east of Machakos. It used to be the capital of the Kitui District in Eastern Province of Kenya. Due to political reforms, Kitui is now the headquarters of Kitui County, which covers a larger area than the former district did...
and eventually to Meru High School in Meru
Meru, Kenya
-Transport:The City of Meru is linked to Nairobi by a paved road, whether from the south around the east side of Mount Kenya, via Embu, or from the northwest around the west and north side of Mount Kenya, via Nanyuki and Timau....
from where he graduated in 1973. Kalonzo Musyoka graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree 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...
in 1977. He continued further studies at the Kenya School of Law
Kenya School of Law
The Kenya School Of Law is currently the only Bar school in Kenya. After their completion of an Undergraduate Degrees in Law from a recognized university, students attend the Kenya School of law to be prepared for admission to the Kenyan Bar....
and Mediterranean Institute of Management in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
.
Politics
Musyoka vied for the Kitui North Constituency parliamentary seat in 1983, but was defeated. At the time, Kenya was one-party state and the only party fielding candidates was Kenya African National UnionKenya African National Union
The Kenya African National Union, better known as KANU is a political party which ruled Kenya for nearly 40 years after its independence from British colonial rule in 1963, until its electoral loss at the end of 2002...
(KANU). However, only two years later, in 1985 the Kitui North seat was vacated and Musyoka won subsequent by-elections, thus becoming an MP at the age of 32. In 1986 he was appointed Assistant Minister for Works. He was re-elected at the 1988 parliamentary elections. He was KANU's National Organizing Secretary from 1988 to 1998.
Kenya's first multiparty elections were held in 1992. Musyoka stayed in KANU, renewed his parliamentary position and was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He also held couple of other ministerial positions while part of the KANU government. He was again elected to the parliament at the 1997 elections, but now from Mwingi North Constituency
Mwingi North Constituency
Mwingi North Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of two constituencies in Mwingi District. The constituency was established for the 1997 elections.The current Mwingi North MP is Kalonzo Musyoka, the vice-president of Kenya...
, since his former constituency Kitui North was split into new constituencies MP.
In the months leading up to the 2002 general election, under the leadership of then KANU secretary general, 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,...
, he decamped from KANU to join the Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Kenya)
The Liberal Democratic Party was a political party in Kenya.In the general election held on 27 December 2002, the party was a partner in the National Rainbow Coalition, which won 56.1 % of the popular vote and 125 out of 212 elected seats. The party itself took 59 of these seats...
(LDP) under the banner of the National Rainbow Coalition
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:...
, which went on to win the general elections.
Musyoka became Minister for Foreign Affairs for a second time under 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...
, but in a cabinet reshuffle on June 30, 2004 he was moved to the post of Minister for the Environment. In late August 2004, he was additionally removed from his position as chairman of the Sudanese and Somali peace talks and was replaced by John Koech
John Koech
John Koech is a Kenyan politician. He was minister for the East African Community in Kenya and a member of parliament for the constituency of Chepalungu until December 2007 when he lost his parliamentary seat to Isaac Ruto.-References:...
. Musyoka was reportedly unhappy with President Kibaki's refusal to honour a pre-election Memorandum of understanding (MOU) which they had signed with the president's party NAK
National Alliance Party of Kenya
The National Alliance Party of Kenya is a political party in Kenya. The National Alliance Party of Kenya was formed on July 3, 2000 when people from varying background decided to form an alliance of democratic forces to work for the social, economic and political unity and welfare of Kenyan...
. He was one of the leaders of the successful "No"-campaign in the November 2005 referendum on the proposed new constitution. Following the referendum, he was dismissed from the Cabinet.
Subsequently Kalonzo Musyoka decamped Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Kenya)
The Liberal Democratic Party was a political party in Kenya.In the general election held on 27 December 2002, the party was a partner in the National Rainbow Coalition, which won 56.1 % of the popular vote and 125 out of 212 elected seats. The party itself took 59 of these seats...
(LDP) into the little known Labor Party of Kenya.
Kalonzo Musyoka was widely expected to vie for the presidency in the 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...
. Musyoka campaigned for the ODM-Kenya ticket, facing a number of other contenders. His rating for December 2007 election steadily dropped, and political analysts wondered whether he would make a significant impact. His relationship with fellow ODM-Kenya leader 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,...
, who was also after the ODM-Kenya presidential ticket, was the subject of much speculation. Many observers questioned whether the presidential hopefuls of ODM-Kenya, particularly Raila and Musyoka, could unite to support one common candidate for the general election.
The ODM-Kenya split into two factions, one gathered around Musyoka and the other around Odinga, in August 2007. Musyoka was elected by his faction as its presidential candidate on August 31, 2007, receiving 2,835 votes in a secret ballot against Julia Ojiambo, who received 791 votes.
Musyoka has been quoted as saying "... the war against poverty could not be won unless environmental issues were addressed."
Musyoka launched his presidential campaign
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...
at Uhuru Park
Uhuru Park
Uhuru Park is a recreational park adjacent to the central business district of Nairobi, Kenya. It contains an artificial lake and an assembly ground used for occasional political and religious gatherings...
in Nairobi on October 14, 2007.
According to official results, Musyoka placed a distant third behind Kibaki and Odinga with 9% of the vote. Amid a violent crisis over the results, with supporters of Kibaki and Odinga disputing the outcome, Kibaki appointed Musyoka as Vice-President and Minister of Home Affairs on January 8, 2008. Musyoka expressed gratitude to Kibaki and, referring to the ongoing dispute and violence, said that he was "intensely aware that the appointment has come at a difficult time when our nation is going through a painful moment". He took office as Vice-President on January 9.
The political crisis eventually led to the signing of a power-sharing agreement between Kibaki and Odinga. In the Grand Coalition Cabinet that was announced on April 13, 2008, Musyoka remained Vice President and Minister of Home Affairs.
In 2010 Musyoka supported the draft constitution in the campaign for August 4th referendum
Kenyan constitutional referendum, 2010
A constitutional referendum was held in Kenya on August 4, 2010 on whether to adopt a proposed new constitution passed by parliament on April 1, 2010...
but Members of the campaign team opposing the draft constitution claimed that he was secretly opposing the draft leading to a satirical comparison of Musyoka to a watermelon which is naturally green outside and red inside, the team supporting the draft constitution was represented by color green while the team opposing the draft constitution was represented by the color red hence the "green team" and the "red team", Musyoka's nickname watermelon was because of his alleged open support for the green team and secret support for the red team.
Personal life
Kalonzo Musyoka is married to Pauline. They have four children. He was baptized by pastor Masila MunyokiExternal links
- Kalonzo Musyoka - official website
- Kalonzo Musyoka - Blogs
- Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation
- Kalonzo Musyoka- Profile, Biography & Timeline
- Kenyan Parliament - Kalonzo Musyoka profile