Michuki will always be remembered as a reformist

Kenya is in mourning as it grieves the death of hard working servant of the people, Environment minister John Michuki.

As Transport minister, Michuki did what many ministers could not have dared.

He took on the matatu transport sector and implemented very radical reforms. As usual, the industry known for chaos, indiscipline, corruption and rot resisted vigorously with strikes, but a determined Michuki would not budge.

The public was ecstatic and gave Michuki full support.

The new transport rules came to be famously known as the Michuki rules.
Soon after Michuki left the ministry, the rot in the industry returned and won. Subsequent ministers have been unable to tame the industry often passing the buck to the Kenyan police or finding all manner of hollow excuses.

Michuki’s tenure in other ministries, including that of Internal Security and later Environment, showed that he was a performer.
Many would have considered Environment a colourless and powerless ministry, but while there he made it important and visible in the administration of the environmental issues.

Matatu industry reforms are among one of his main stamps on governance. For the very first time, the Nairobi River which was infamous for its filth, started getting clean.

Many people thought that if you gave Michuki any ministry, positive reforms would occur. He is probably only compared to other hard working leaders such as Simeon Nyachae and Kenneth Matiba. He was an achiever in corporate, business and government leadership.

In the current hullabaloo on tackling corruption, it’s probably Michuki who could have competently led the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission with the required zeal, energy and the toughness required.

Few public servants would measure up to the courage and passion of executing their job like the departed leader.

In a country where greed, corruption, negative ethnicity , self aggrandizement, character assassination, , malice, mudslinging, indiscipline, pilferage and negative scheming is the order of the day in public and private service , it’s rare to find a leader of Michuki’s stature.

Rest in peace Honourable John Michuki, Kenyans will dearly miss you.

Ikunda works for an international NGO based in Kenya