How Nyachae Saved KSG Security Management Institute
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Vol. 10 Issue 4 13—19 February, 2021 KSG Campuses Baringo #ZuiaCorona Embu Matuga Mombasa Weekly Bulletin Published by the KSG Communications Department Institutes e-Learning and Development Institute How Nyachae saved KSG Security Management Institute KSG Centres of Excellence Centre for Devolution Studies Centre for Public Service Values, Ethics and Integrity Centre for Public Finance Management Centre for Leadership and Public Policy Centre for Advanced Training and Consultancy Services The late Simeon Nyachae, then Head of Civil Service, presides over a closing ceremony of a course at the Kenya Centre for Research and School of Government (then Kenya Institute of Administration) in 1989. Advisory Services BY SAMWEL KUMBA the same day from 9.00 am In his condolence Centre for Environment AND EPHLINE OKOTH at Gusii Stadium. Nyachae message, President Uhuru and Climate Change n Monday, as the served in three Kenyatta termed Nyachae’s Response nation celebrates governments; that of the late successful transition from Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the public service to the world the life of a seasoned public late Daniel Arap Moi and of business and politics as a administrationO officer and a former President demonstration that focus Ngilu: Counties should aim 4 Mwai Kibaki. He died aged and hard work pays. for self-reliance former Cabinet Minister, Simeon Nyachae, the Kenya School of 88. “Throughout his many Ideal professional wardrobe 5 Government (KSG) reckons the Variedly described as a years of service to the businessman, politician, nation, right from his time for men role he played in safeguarding former chief secretary, and in the provincial Pleasure of working from 6 continuity of civil service training. ex-head of civil service, administration through to home Nyachae had considerable his transition into business The family of the late Ogopa hammers WYSA in a 8 Nyachae earlier confirmed that contribution to the nation. and politics, Mzee Nyachae six goal thriller the burial will take place He died at the Nairobi exhibited exemplary zeal to Hospital on Monday, succeed and as he exits from Humour/Quote 10 on Monday, February 15 in a private ceremony at his home in February 1 where he had this world, he leaves behind Courses across campuses 11 Nyosia Village, Kisii County. A been undergoing treatment, a rich legacy of success,” according to family sources. President Kenyatta funeral service will be held on Page 2 How Nyachae saved KSG Editor’s Note... eulogised. Nyachae’s next assignment was, again, to the School (then Kenya Institute Training at KSG of Administration) in Lower Kabete, Faith Musoga Nyachae’s interaction with the where he took the District Officer’s School dates back to his early years in course. There he took the law the service. In 1954 Nyachae began examination and qualified as a first-class KSG will fondly work as a District Clerk, stationed in magistrate, a role which at the time was remember Nyachae Nyaribari Location where his father combined with that of a District was a chief. In effect he was being Commissioner. That course and the one id you know apprenticed. As he worked there, on Colonial Administration which he Nyachae attended some basic undertook in 1963 at Cambridge that the late administrative courses at the School University, were also designed to Nyachae did (then Maseno Government Training socialize the new recruits into their roles defend the Institute, which was to later be as their colonial predecessors had SchoolD to remain what it is transferred to become Embu understood them. today? Government Training Institute), the In addition to the training in the law If you have read his story, current Embu Campus. and administrative practice, there was you will know that Nyachae’s Fast forward to November 1961, instruction in small arms, horseback Nyachae was posted to Kangundo riding, and table manners. These interaction with the School dates Division in Machakos District, where symbolized the kind of administrative back to his early years in the he served first as a District Assistant and social role they were expected to public service when he did and then later as the District Officer for play in Kenyan society. attend basic administrative the Division. This was one of the more The socialization process was clearly courses at the Embu Campus, difficult Provincial Administration rushed, and one would have expected its and the District Officer’s course postings in Kenya at the time because it impact to be diminished as a result. For at the then KIA. was a centre of agitation against the example, Nyachae was able to stay for British rule. only six of the nine required months at When the School was faced He remained in Kangundo Cambridge because the Kenyan with eminent conversion into a Division for only six months, too short a government needed him. But the university, the late Nyachae, period to have real impact, but he instruction had its effect nonetheless. differed with the then Head of considered the experience to be a The law-and-order component of State, the late President Daniel seminal one in his career. From it, he the role remained the primary concern of Toroitich Arap as he believed in understood what field administration the Africans inducted into the provincial realizing good governance and really meant and that independence administration in this period, and they would bring problems as well as resisted attempts by a later generation of transformation of service delivery through training and prospects. Continued on page 3 empowerment of the public servants. And this has remained the mandate of the School. As a School, we pay tribute to Nyachae, because were it not for him and many other Kenyans who believed in the investment on public servants, the School could not be in existence. Let us then uphold this School with all we have and what we do because someone did actually believe in us. Simeon Nyachae at a past function. Photo Courtesy Page 3 How Nyachae saved KSG expatriate administrative trainers to The School became a target due to Born on February 6, 1932 in Nyosia vil- shift the courses decisively toward the pre-occupation with university lage, Nyaribari in Kisii to colonial-era chief primacy of a developmental role by education where the country faced Musa Nyandusi, Nyachae was trained at the stressing economics, sociology, and high numbers of students seeking Kenya School of Government and in the UK planning. education and qualifying for as a public administrator. Although many of them were university education. Yet, the existing The late Nyachae rose through the ranks strong supporters of economic and universities were already too bloated including from a District Officer in social development, they firmly with increasing numbers and few Kangundo to be appointed District Commis- believed that it could be achieved only if lecturers owing to the then double sioner at the time of Kenya’s independence law and order were maintained, and intakes among other factors. in 1963 before serving as a Provincial Com- they considered the latter their first Even though the takeover of the missioner between 1965 and 1979. priority. School was a done deal, after He later served as Chief Secretary and After his training at the School Nyachae’s position, the decision was Head of Civil Service under late President (then Kenya Institute of rescinded owing to a number of Daniel Arap Moi. The former minister leaves Administration) and the Cambridge factors including his insistence that behind a vast business empire with interests courses, Nyachae also served briefly in ‘civil servants had to be inducted on in manufacturing, transport, real estate, Makweni Division of Machakos government policy issues by bonafide banking and large-scale farming. District. During this period Nyachae senior civil or public servants and not President Uhuru Kenyatta said the for- had a serious accident which left him by university lecturers’. The earlier mer Nyaribari Chache MP was jolly, accessi- with recurrent back troubles. When he decision, however, saw the School lose ble and dependable. returned to provincial administration part of its land, facilities, and staff. “I recall with nostalgia my many interac- from Cambridge, England, in March tions with Mzee Nyachae over the years. As 1964, he was to face the challenge of Good governance an elder and friend, Mzee Nyachae always governing an independent, not a The Kenya School of Government had a word of wisdom and encouragement colonial, Kenya. then survived courtesy of Nyachae. for me. Many will remember and miss Mzee Nyachae’s entire upbringing aimed That is the man Kenya is mourning Nyachae’s warm personality and especially him toward the Provincial and laying to rest this Monday. The his hearty and infectious laughter,” he said. Administration and its law-and-order man who believed in realizing good In 1992, Nyachae left the civil service to orientation. His father’s example and governance and transformation of join politics and was elected as the Nyaribari wishes so inclined him, and his early service delivery through training and Chache Member of Parliament, a seat he re- withdrawal from secondary school empowerment of the public servants. tained in successive elections until his defeat precluded more professional options. The man who, when no one easily in 2007. During his tenure as an differed publicly with the ‘no MP, President Moi appointed Nyachae a Defended KSG existence nonsense’ President Moi, did risk to Minister of Agriculture and later Finance. Standing by his belief in enhancing do so in support of the existence of the Nyachae was moved to the less power- the capacity of public servants to Kenya School of Government. ful ministry of Trade. He soon quit the ruling effectively contribute to governance of As a School, we pay tribute to party Kanu and resigned from government the country, Nyachae defended the Nyachae, because if it were not for after viewing his removal from the Finance existence of the School (then Kenya him, and many other Kenyans who ministry as a demotion.