- Amos Kimunya
Amos Muhinga Kimunya (born
March 6 ,1962 ) is aKenya n politician and a Member of Parliament forKipipiri Constituency . He was Minister of Finance from 2006 to July 2008, when he resigned due to theGrand Regency Hotel scandal . Previously, he was the Minister of Lands and Settlement.Early life and education
Kimunya was born in
Kiambu and immediately migrated to the newNyandarua District , Kenya.He holds a Bachelors Degree in Commerce (Accounting) from the
University of Nairobi . He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, K) and a Certified Public Secretary (CPS, K). He previously served as the Chairperson of ICPAK which is the national body of Certified Public Accountants.Political career
When the
National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) won the December 2002 general election, PresidentMwai Kibaki appointed Kimunya as the Minister of Lands and Settlement. He had been elected Member of Parliament for Kipipiri Constituency. OnFebruary 14 2006 he was appointed as Minister of Finance by President Kibaki following the resignation ofDavid Mwiraria , who had resigned to pave way for investigation into theAnglo Leasing Scandal .Kimunya remained Finance Minister in the Cabinet appointed by Kibaki on
January 8 2008 , following the controversial December 2007 election. [ [http://allafrica.com/stories/200801080673.html "Kenya: Kibaki Names Cabinet"] , "The East African Standard" (allAfrica.com), January 8, 2008.] After a power-sharing agreement was reached between Kibaki andRaila Odinga , both of whom claimed victory in the presidential election, Kimunya retained his post in the Grand Coalition Cabinet named onApril 13 2008 . [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7345318.stm "Kenya unveils coalition cabinet"] , BBC News, April 13, 2008.] [Anthony Kariuki, [http://politics.nationmedia.com/inner.asp?pcat=NEWS&cat=TOP&sid=1787 "Kibaki names Raila PM in new Cabinet"] , nationmedia.com, April 13, 2008.]On
July 2 2008 , Kimunya lost a parliamentary vote of no confidence, which was based on concerns related to the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel. [http://politics.nationmedia.com/inner.asp?sid=2083 "MPs pass vote of no-confidence against Kimunya"] , Nationmedia.com, July 2, 2008.] It was alleged that the hotel was sold for far less than its actual value when it was purchased by aLibya n company. [http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/07/2008781563453941.html "Minister quits over Kenya hotel sum"] , Al Jazeera, July 8, 2008.] In his defense, Kimunya asserted that he had a clean record of fighting corruption. [http://politics.nationmedia.com/inner.asp?sid=2083 "MPs pass vote of no-confidence against Kimunya"] , Nationmedia.com, July 2, 2008.]On
8 July 2008 , Kimunya resigned from the cabinet to pave way for an independent commission to investigate the sale, in which he was involved, after intense public pressure for him to resign over his role in the sale of the hotel. A few days prior to his resignation, he had vowed to remain in his post and fight any attempt to force his resignation, going so far as to announce "I would rather die than resign!" Therefore, his resignation came as a surprise to many.Fact|date=July 2008References
ee also
*
David Mwiraria External links
* http://www.parliament.go.ke/MPs/members_kimunya_m.php
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