Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka

Vice President (2008); Minister for Home Affairs

Date of Birth: 24/12/1953
Place of Birth: Tseikuru

Biography: MP, Kitui North, 1985 to date; Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1993-98 and 2003-04; Minister of the Environment, 2004-05; Vice-President, 2008 to date. 

Commentary: Musyoka first obtained a parliamentary seat in 1985 (the Kitui North constituency). He was a prominent member of KANU, serving as National Organizing Secretary from 1988-1988, and remaining with them during the first multi party elections in 1992. He left KANU in 2002 along with Raila Odinga, joining the LDP which, under the NARC umbrella, went on to win the 2002 elections. He served in Kibaki's cabinet but was one of the leaders of the 'No' campain in the 2005 referendum on the proposed new constitution, and was consequently dismissed from his post during the referendum fall-out. In the run up to the 2007 Presidential election Musyoka and Raila Odinga both vied for the ODM-Kenya ticket; the party split into two factions, one with Raila and one with Musyoka, after weeks of tension. Both candidates ran for President, however, official results placed Musyoka third behind Raila and Kibaki with a significantly smaller proportion of the national vote. Kibaki appointed Musyoka Vice-President on Janury 8th 2008.