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The life of George Saitoti
1/
Prof Saitoti had only three trusted security confidantes: Inspector Joshua Tonkei, his PA - Michael ole Tanju, and a bodyguard named Sultan.
The only other confidant was businessman Jimi Wanjigi.
nation.co.ke/news/Inside-Sa…
1/
Prof Saitoti had only three trusted security confidantes: Inspector Joshua Tonkei, his PA - Michael ole Tanju, and a bodyguard named Sultan.
The only other confidant was businessman Jimi Wanjigi.
nation.co.ke/news/Inside-Sa…
2/
Ever since he was poisoned at a Muthaiga restaurant that he frequented, Prof Saitoti had become an edgy politician, always fearing that someone was out to kill him.
Apart from a single restaurant in Nairobi, Prof Saitoti would hardly take any food or drinks outside his home.
Ever since he was poisoned at a Muthaiga restaurant that he frequented, Prof Saitoti had become an edgy politician, always fearing that someone was out to kill him.
Apart from a single restaurant in Nairobi, Prof Saitoti would hardly take any food or drinks outside his home.
3/
The Ouko connection
He would later say that he did not know those who killed Dr Ouko because he was “was unconscious when Ouko was being killed”.
One of his friends, Mohammed Aslam, had apparently been poisoned after giving evidence to the commission on the murder of Dr Ouko
The Ouko connection
He would later say that he did not know those who killed Dr Ouko because he was “was unconscious when Ouko was being killed”.
One of his friends, Mohammed Aslam, had apparently been poisoned after giving evidence to the commission on the murder of Dr Ouko
4/
Birds of a feather...
Before he died, Aslam was the chairman of Pan African Bank and a frequent visitor to Prof Saitoti’s Treasury office.
Here, like many other wheeler-dealers, he would queue to seek favours as he laid the foundation of the then-Grand Regency Hotel
Birds of a feather...
Before he died, Aslam was the chairman of Pan African Bank and a frequent visitor to Prof Saitoti’s Treasury office.
Here, like many other wheeler-dealers, he would queue to seek favours as he laid the foundation of the then-Grand Regency Hotel
4/
The OGs:
Aslam's family would later sell the hotel project to Uhuru Highway Development Co, whose chairman was Kamlesh Pattni of Goldenberg fame.
The project shareholders for 2,000 shares were:
-Moi: 800 shares
-Aslam: 1,020
-Chris Kirubi: 80
-W. Murungi: 60
-G. Lindi: 40
The OGs:
Aslam's family would later sell the hotel project to Uhuru Highway Development Co, whose chairman was Kamlesh Pattni of Goldenberg fame.
The project shareholders for 2,000 shares were:
-Moi: 800 shares
-Aslam: 1,020
-Chris Kirubi: 80
-W. Murungi: 60
-G. Lindi: 40
5/
By approving the Goldenberg scheme, Saitoti had been initiated into a murky and frightening world; an underworld that was full of sleaze, skulduggery, and where only death would extricate him.
As the Min. for Finance, Saitoti found himself at the heart of these transactions
By approving the Goldenberg scheme, Saitoti had been initiated into a murky and frightening world; an underworld that was full of sleaze, skulduggery, and where only death would extricate him.
As the Min. for Finance, Saitoti found himself at the heart of these transactions
6/
We now know that four months after Saitoti was poisoned one of the most powerful schemers of the Nyayo era, Hezekiah Oyugi – by then a permanent secretary in the Office of the President – had pushed for a gold export compensation scheme for approval by the Treasury.
We now know that four months after Saitoti was poisoned one of the most powerful schemers of the Nyayo era, Hezekiah Oyugi – by then a permanent secretary in the Office of the President – had pushed for a gold export compensation scheme for approval by the Treasury.
7/
By the time Saitoti returned to read his budget speech of June 1990, he found that the Export Compensation Scheme was now his projections.
There was little he could do. Later on, he received in his office Kenya’s most fear-provoking man: James Kanyotu.
By the time Saitoti returned to read his budget speech of June 1990, he found that the Export Compensation Scheme was now his projections.
There was little he could do. Later on, he received in his office Kenya’s most fear-provoking man: James Kanyotu.
8/
Enter Brother Paul
Mr Kanyotu was not only the head of Special Branch but also a voracious politico and businessman.
With him was a young Indian, Kamlesh Pattni, who had incorporated a new company, Goldenberg International, and wanted to be granted 35% export compensation.
Enter Brother Paul
Mr Kanyotu was not only the head of Special Branch but also a voracious politico and businessman.
With him was a young Indian, Kamlesh Pattni, who had incorporated a new company, Goldenberg International, and wanted to be granted 35% export compensation.
9/
Having become a millionaire by assisting the political and business networks, Prof Saitoti had also become one of the richest men in Moi’s Cabinet.
That way, he was a trapped man, unable to salvage his name as one of the architects of the Goldenberg scandal.
Having become a millionaire by assisting the political and business networks, Prof Saitoti had also become one of the richest men in Moi’s Cabinet.
That way, he was a trapped man, unable to salvage his name as one of the architects of the Goldenberg scandal.
10/
It was the merger of Raila Odinga’s NDP and Kanu on March 18, 2002 that signalled to Saitoti that the road to State House was rough...
What Saitoti did not know was that Moi was looking elsewhere and secretly he was campaigning for a newcomer, Uhuru Kenyatta, to take over.
It was the merger of Raila Odinga’s NDP and Kanu on March 18, 2002 that signalled to Saitoti that the road to State House was rough...
What Saitoti did not know was that Moi was looking elsewhere and secretly he was campaigning for a newcomer, Uhuru Kenyatta, to take over.
11/
Et tu, Brute?
Saitoti was shocked to find that his name was not in the list of candidates.
He walked over to Moi and complained loudly about his name.
But President Moi dismissed him with: “Kimya (shut up!) Professor; if your name is not on the list, it is not there.”
Et tu, Brute?
Saitoti was shocked to find that his name was not in the list of candidates.
He walked over to Moi and complained loudly about his name.
But President Moi dismissed him with: “Kimya (shut up!) Professor; if your name is not on the list, it is not there.”
12/
This was the "There come a time speech"
“There come (sic) a time when the nation is more important than an individual…but one day I will be proved right.”
This was the "There come a time speech"
“There come (sic) a time when the nation is more important than an individual…but one day I will be proved right.”
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The reveal...
A pathologist, Dr Dorothy Njeru, who examined Prof Saitoti’s body after the June 2012 crash, told a commission of inquiry led by Justice Kalpana Rawal that Prof Saitoti may have died from inhaling a poisonous gas before the helicopter crashed.
The reveal...
A pathologist, Dr Dorothy Njeru, who examined Prof Saitoti’s body after the June 2012 crash, told a commission of inquiry led by Justice Kalpana Rawal that Prof Saitoti may have died from inhaling a poisonous gas before the helicopter crashed.
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And even more:
Born of Kikuyu parents, Zacharia Kiarie and Zipporah Gathoni, Saitoti had grown up as George Kinuthia Kiarie in Olkeri, Lower Matasia.
Saitoti’s father had escaped to Maasailand from Dagoretti at the height of the State of Emergency in the 1950s
And even more:
Born of Kikuyu parents, Zacharia Kiarie and Zipporah Gathoni, Saitoti had grown up as George Kinuthia Kiarie in Olkeri, Lower Matasia.
Saitoti’s father had escaped to Maasailand from Dagoretti at the height of the State of Emergency in the 1950s
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Those who attended Ololua Primary School have told the Nation that Saitoti was by then known as Kinuthia wa Kiarie, a name he proudly used in his PhD thesis at the University of Warwick in 1972.
Upon his return, he simply became George Saitoti.
nation.co.ke/news/A-look-in…
Those who attended Ololua Primary School have told the Nation that Saitoti was by then known as Kinuthia wa Kiarie, a name he proudly used in his PhD thesis at the University of Warwick in 1972.
Upon his return, he simply became George Saitoti.
nation.co.ke/news/A-look-in…
