He had positioned himself to succeed the then President Mwai Kibaki in the 2013 presidential contest. But for former Vice President Prof. George Saitoti, all that remained like a pipe dream.
By the time the then Internal Security minister met his painful death in the morning of June 10, 2012, he had already declared that he was running for President come 2013.
Though many believed that he had the backing of his boss, Kibaki, the President himself had not come out to declare his support for Prof. Saitoti. Perhaps, he was keeping his cards close to his chest.
As one of the most experienced politicians in the country at the time, the former minister had been in the game for some 30 years, 13 of which he served as the country’s Vice President- the longest tenure in the history of the country.
But the mathematics professor would not take part in the 2013 poll after meeting his painful death at Kibiko area of Ngong’ forest.
Prof Saitoti, his assistant Joshua Orwa Ojode and four others perished after the police chopper they were travelling in, crashed and burst into flames.
The commission of inquiry formed to probe the death of the former Vice President and five others, could not really unravel what transpired.
Almost 11 years later, the sudden death of the former minister remains shrouded in controversy and mystery. But for the USA and UK-educated mathematician and economist, it was the end of an era for him. He would never get a chance to run for the country’s top seat.
by: LarryKatana