Former PS Karanja Kibicho. Photo/Courtesy
Former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has resurfaced in public discourse with a reflective message on power, retirement and leadership, cautioning those currently in office that authority is temporary and accountability inevitable.
In a lengthy Facebook post that quickly drew reactions online, Kibicho acknowledged the irony of his transition from one of the most powerful bureaucrats in government to what some followers jokingly describe as “a blogger.”
“Kweli huyu ni Kibicho yule alikuwa PS Interior? Haki hii pawa ni transient kabisa. Sasa ni blogger tu,” he quoted critics as saying, before agreeing with them on one point: that power does not last.
Kibicho served as Principal Secretary for Interior and National Administration during a politically turbulent period marked by election-related tensions and heightened security operations.
The Interior docket is among the most influential in government, overseeing internal security, coordination of national administration, and supervision of regional government structures.
In his message, the former PS reflected on how quickly influence fades once one exits office.
“One day the phone rings less. Then it stops. Titles expire,” he wrote, describing how praise, privileges and public attention gradually disappear after leaving power.
However, Kibicho said what ultimately remains is “character, memory, and the quiet audit of how power was used."
Without naming specific individuals, he directed his remarks at leaders currently holding office.
He listed what he described as abuses of authority, including corruption, shrinking civic space, silencing dissent, intimidation of institutions and mismanagement of the economy.
He also referenced alleged human rights violations, including abductions and excessive force against young people, warning that governing through fear rather than trust carries long-term consequences.
“Power does pass. Quietly. Suddenly. Inevitably,” he stated, adding that history has a way of restoring balance.
His concluding message urged restraint among those in leadership, cautioning that one day today’s office holders will join the ranks of former officials, where “conversations are humbler, lessons clearer, and power no longer speaks.”