Former Finance Minister Robbinson Njeru Githae once sparked outrage all over the country after he controversially asked Kenyans to feast on rats.
The country was being ravaged by hunger in 2012, and Njeru then serving under the late President Mwai Kibaki's tenure, asked starving Kenyans to diversify their diets.
President Kibaki had tasked the Finance Minister to provide solutions to perennial hunger issues, but his advice did not sit well with the hungry nation.
"For example in Tanzania, they eat rats. But in this country, if you tell people to eat rats, they will not eat.
"Therefore, people will die of hunger yet there are rats," Njeru advised.
Just like the current Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya who asked Kenyans not to depend on ugali only after maize flour prices rose, Githae received a backlash with Kenyans accusing him of failing to execute his duties aptly.
His five months stint at the helm of the Treasury, however, proved that he was a public servant who stuck to his word whenever push came to shove.
Njeru left a mark at the Treasury by turning down a number of bills and amendments. He failed to allocate funds for the free learning project both in primary and secondary schools arguing that the Ministry of Education had failed to submit payment schedules.
He ultimately released the funds after teachers threatened to down their tools.
The minister also had his number all over the internet and made headlines by personally picking up calls and promptly responding to queries.
Njeru ventured into politics in 2003 when he won the Ndia Parliamentary seat. He swiftly rose among the ranks when he was appointed Assistant Minister for Justice and Constitution.
While on official duty in January 2003, Githae survived a plane crash that killed former Labour Minister Ahmed Mohamed Khalif. The 24-seater jet went down seconds into take-off in Busia.
Njeru sustained injuries and was rushed to hospital as the two pilots flying them perished along with the Khalif.
In January 2014, the former minister lost to TNA's Joseph Ndathi in his bid to be elected governor of Kirinyaga County.
However, he was appointed Ambassador to the US by President Uhuru Kenyatta. Njeru is renowned for working for the establishment of direct flights from Kenya to the United States by Kenya Airways.
