Bob Odalo
27 April 2008
Nairobi — Mr Daniel Maanzo's office on the third floor of Kencom House in Nairobi is a typical senior Kenyan civil servant's work station - a secretary at the reception, a computer, a telephone, a fax machine on the big desk in front, and a big cupboard with government documents at the back.
The name plate on the door "Daniel Maanzo Secretary of Sports" leaves no doubt who is boss.
Thursday, April 24, 2008 was Mr Maanzo's first day in office. It wasn't too busy yet on day one, so he could spare time for a fairly lengthy interview.
He suggested that we move from his desk to a brown leather sofa next to a television set in the office.
At the time, local TV channels were relaying live transmission of a peace rally addressed by grand coalition government leaders in Cherengany in the Rift Valley province.
"This is more relaxing. Anyway Bob, why do you want this interview now? I think the best out of it will be when I know the what my contract with the government contains," he said. "I am yet to sign a contract. I have not received a letter specifying my role. I want to look at the terms and then move on from there."
He said he took up the job because he did not want to appear to be turning down a presidential appointment.
"Honestly, I did not know that I would be appointed to this position. I had nosed around and found out that my name was not anywhere close to such an appointment, so when it came I was a bit surprised," he said.
"I was on my way home the day the appointments were announced, then some television and radio journalists called to ask for my reactions on my appointment".
Although his exact role has not yet been spelled out, Mr Maanzo said he is likely to take care of legal matters in the department, which he likened to a country with many political parties.
"Sports is wide. We have so many sporting disciplines falling under the department. They have their own problems, and sometimes issues affecting them end up in court; that is where my service will come in handy, I guess," the lawyer said.
He joked that the new job might give him the peace of mind that he misses. In the past year he has had more than his fair share of controversies.
He said he has witnessed many ups and down in life, some of which he described as "real turbulent moments especially in politics."
Politics, he said, offered him promises which later turned out to be empty. Last year, he jealously protected the ODM-K party from falling into the hands of the Raila Odinga faction before fell out with the one led by Mr Kalonzo Musyoka.
Mr Maanzo then set his eyes on the Makueni parliamentary seat on the party's ticket in the last General Election but was persuaded to step down for Mr Peter Kiilu, the former provincial commissioner, with the promise that he would be the first to be nominated to Parliament by ODM-K. When the promise was not fulfilled, Mr Maanzo sued Mr Musyoka, the party leader, who is now Vice-President.
Mr Maanzo said he has since withdrawn the suit. A letter he wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly challenging the nominations of the two ODM-K legislators, he said, had also been overtaken by events.
"I have grown wiser today. I must have been naive when I accepted things on a gentleman's agreement. Next time, I will be more careful. The experiences I have had during my stint in politics have taught me never to put all my trust in individuals. It is a lesson I want the youth to learn," he said.
"I want the youth to learn that despite disappointments they should never give up in life, there is always light at the end of the tunnel."
Mr Maanzo said Kenyans should look forward to better service from what he regards a competent team at the Youth and Sports ministry.
"I see good results, and Kenyans should give the new team led by the minister and her two assistants all the support they need," he said.
He said if passed, the Sporting Bill which is due for debate in Parliament, will improve the management of sporting activities in the country.
"We only hear of government coming in when Kenyan teams are involved in international competitions; we want the same attention to be given to sporting activities in the estates, schools, colleges and respective leagues," he says. He said sports should also be used to fight tribalism in the country.
"The post-election violence exposed the hidden truth of Kenya's political and socio-economic make-up; the current efforts by President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka to heal the nation should be applauded," he said.
Mr Maanzo, an old boy of Starehe Boys, was born December 12, 1973. He obtained a law degree from the University of Nairobi in 1998 and was enrolled as an advocate of the High Court in 2000. Before setting up his own legal firm last year he worked as a legal adviser for the ODM-K.
Earlier on he had worked as a partner with M/S Sheth and Wathigo Advocates.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
