Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho is one of the most powerful government officials in charge of the government’s most robust administration mechanisms.
Regarded as more powerful than some Cabinet Secretaries, a Standard Media Group journalist attested to watching CSs line up at Kibicho's Harambee House office waiting to be granted some of his most precious time.
According to a former holder of the office whom the oath of secrecy doesn’t allow him the freedom of expression on such matters, the head of state calls the interior PS' office up to 10 times a day.
This close proximity with the President is what has granted previous officeholders the perception of being bigger than life.
It's not until they leave the office that they realised that the power is transient.
The entire provincial administration system which past presidents used was collapsed into the Interior docket and thus Kibicho is in charge of regional, county, sub-county commissioners down to chiefs and village elders.
Due to the robust structure, the PS’ orders and directives can be felt in every household in the country within minutes of its pronouncement.
Kibicho is part of the top tier government officials with access to daily security briefs and to whom much is given, much is expected.
In realisation of the heavy crown on his head, the PS made a decision to quit alcohol in totality after he was moved from the Foreign Affairs docket to the Ministry of Interior.
“I used to take alcohol moderately. But when I was appointed to this post (Security PS), I have never drunk because I know that I am required to be very alert and keen at all times,” he said in a past address to National Government Administration Officers.
Kibicho also chairs the powerful National Development Implementation Technical Committee - which coordinates some of the functions that had been previously left to the Office of the Deputy President.
He is the only PS who enjoys road clearance by police chase cars and is in the highest category of VIPs who include the President, DP, First Lady, CSs for Interior, Foreign Affairs and Defence.
His tenure comes at a time when the country is about to transition from a fourth to fifth president and is caught up in the political melee that comes with the anticipated change of guard.
He finds himself in a similar position to Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia in 2013 when Kibaki was handing overpower.
And just like Kimemia was accused of attempting to influence succession politics, Kibicho has found himself in a similar space and defended himself by saying he is just doing his work.
