Lucy Kibaki Snubs State House Boss  

News

By Mike Mwaniki and Patrick Mayoyo

First Lady Lucy Kibaki publicly snubbed the State House Comptroller yesterday as the President's family returned to Nairobi after a two-week holiday at the Coast.

Mrs Kibaki pointedly avoided shaking hands with Mr Matere Keriri, one of President Kibaki's closest aides, with whom she has had widely-publicised clashes in the past fortnight.

Accompanied by the President, Mrs Kibaki was the first to step down from the presidential jet and be received by Vice-President Moody Awori. She warmly greeted Mr Awori as other Government officials and dignitaries got into the reception line.

She smiled as she went down the line shaking the hands of Cabinet Ministers Chris Murungaru, David Mwiraria, Mukhisa Kituyi and Anyang Nyong'o.

She exchanged a few pleasantries with each before getting to the point where Mr Keriri was waiting, sandwiched between Kamukunji MP Norman Nyagah and Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Francis Sigei.

She smiled at Mr Nyagah but did not shake his hand, ignored Mr Keriri and smiled for Mr Sigei, whose hand she warmly shook.

But Mr Keriri's boss made up for everything when he greeted him in as warm a manner as he did the other dignitaries who had arrived to receive him. He held on to his grandson Kibaki Junior's arm as he walked down the reception line. A Cabinet Minister was overhead commenting to a colleague: "My God, wait until you see what will appear on TV tonight!"

The entourage all went to the presidential pavilion for refreshments. After 10 minutes, Mr Keriri emerged and headed for his blue Mercedes Benz, where he waited until the President and his security entourage were ready to leave for State House.

The President left Mombasa's Moi International Airport for Nairobi shortly after 5pm in his official jet, accompanied by Cabinet Minister Karisa Maitha, among other Government officials.

He told Coast residents that it would not be long before he paid them another visit. He was speaking during a brief stop-over at Changamwe on his way to the airport.

Mrs Kibaki dramatically boycotted New Year celebrations at State House, Mombasa, after taking offence at a slip of the tongue by Vice-President Moody Awori.

The VP, proposing a toast during a dinner for Cabinet ministers, assistant ministers and senior Government officials preceding the main celebration, inadvertently referred to Mrs Kibaki as the "Second Lady" which led to an embarrassing confrontation.

Guests at the dinner said Mrs Kibaki demanded to know why she was being relegated to Second Lady. And in spite of an immediate and exhaustive apology by the VP, she continued to bitterly protest despite attempts to calm her.

Other media reports spoke of her having public disagreements with Mr Keriri over the President's diary, resulting in Mr Kibaki not attending some scheduled functions.

President Kibaki was scheduled to officiate at a number of public engagements, but the First Lady preferred that he use his Mombasa trip to relax and get away form the rigours of office.

There were also tensions in Mombasa over the presence of President Kibaki's second wife, Wambui.