KAIKAI'S KICKER: Nuclear Waste in Kenya? Thank you for the upgrade Mr Jirongo!

In a self-styled interview on a social media platform, former Cabinet Minister Cyrus Jirongo told Lawyer PLO Lumumba that the government of the late Second President Daniel arap Moi had okayed the dumping of toxic nuclear waste in parts of Kenya's northeastern region.

Jirongo further claimed that cases of cancer in the region are linked to the alleged dumping of toxic nuclear material in the region. 

The former minister narrated how he allegedly came across official government documents containing information on the alleged dumping of the toxic waste. 

The documents, he said, were shown to him by a well-connected lawyer with strong ties with the political power center.

Then he told of how he proceeded, armed with the documents to confront the former president at the State House. 

It was a stormy meeting, he said; and in fact described the atmosphere at the meeting as 'violent'. Then he was threatened with dire consequences for allegedly confronting the president. 

The interview posted on YouTube went on to narrate how a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy was moved in an impromptu reshuffle carried out at 4 pm, as Cyrus Jirongo narrates.

Before we proceed, let us make two quick observations; first, Jirongo's claims have so far not been independently corroborated; and secondly, the persons he names as subject players in his claim are all dead.

Nonetheless, the claims by Cyrus Jirongo should be taken very seriously for two reasons. First, Cyrus Jirongo was a power insider and a literal right-hand man of the then President Moi. 

When the country returned to multi-party politics in 1992 and President Moi teetered on the brink, Cyrus Jirongo was among a group of young political operatives styling themselves as the Youth for KANU '92 that came to the president’s aid. 

YK '92 as Youth for KANU 1992 was known, became a powerful outfit that enjoyed free reign when it came to power and money. 

What YK '92 wanted, President Moi gave. Indeed, Cyrus Jirongo, the chairman of YK '92 became synonymous with the generous dishing of cash ahead of elections – and some called him Mr. Moneybags. 

And when President Moi’s government printed the first 500 shilling note, the Kenyan grapevine was ready with a nickname – the 500 shilling note was nicknamed ‘Jirongo.’ So when it comes to closeness to power, there is no kidding on Jirongo’s proximity to the heart of Moi’s political power. 

You bet, he would know not only all the dumping sites but also all the sewage pipes and even the proverbial skeletons in the closet. 

So on closeness to Moi, take Jirongo seriously. But as observed earlier, no one has corroborated Jirongo’s toxic waste claim and unfortunately President Moi is dead as is the lawyer that allegedly had the toxic waste papers.

On to my second reason why Jirongo’s claims must be probed. Recent events in Kenya have shown us what some political leaders are capable of. 

At a good fee or for some really handsome profit, political leaders are capable of selling their conscience, let alone some god-forsaken arid interior.

So, let us challenge Cyrus Jirongo to prove his claims. 

And as we wait on Jirongo’s nuclear waste claim, let us discuss a more recent dumping – do you remember that condemned sugar that made its way to Kenya, then mysteriously disappeared? Yes, a whole 20,000 bags of toxic sugar just disappeared? 

And who imported it? I’d swear as you should that a political leader was involved. And where did the toxic sugar disappear to? My guess; someone’s tea cup. Or coffee cup… At this rate, nuclear waste sounds like an upgrade for Kenyans!

What a waste…

That is my kicker.