Meet Ahmed Khalif: Tragic Story of Kenyan Minister Who Barely Served 20 Days
The role of Cabinet Secretary, previously known as Minister before the 2010 Constitution was enacted, ranks among the top five senior positions within the government.
Securing such a position demands appropriate qualifications, strategic maneuvering, and, in some cases, lobbying efforts.
It is a role many aspire to, requiring significant effort to obtain and maintain, often leading incumbents to strive for long-term tenure.
However, unforeseen events such as illnesses or accidents can abruptly end one’s term, as demonstrated by Ahmed Khalif’s brief stint as Minister of Labour.
Ahmed Khalif was appointed Labour Minister in 2003, shortly after the late President Mwai Kibaki took office following his 2002 election victory.
At the time, Khalif was a prominent politician from Wajir, and his appointment was seen as a step toward ensuring regional balance in government representation.
As the only Cabinet member from the Northeastern region, Khalif was a figure of interest and hope.
Unfortunately, his tenure was cut tragically short on January 4, 2003, just 20 days after assuming office, due to a plane crash in Busia.
Khalif and other senior leaders were returning to Nairobi from a function in Busia County when their 24-seater Gulfstream plane failed to gain adequate altitude.
The aircraft, hindered by the short runway at the airstrip, struck two houses and a power line.
The crash claimed the lives of Khalif, pilots Sammy Mungai and Abdikadir Kuto, while Ministers Martha Karua, Raphael Tuju, and Jebii Kilimo sustained injuries.
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Khalif was rushed to the hospital but succumbed shortly after arrival, making him the shortest-serving minister under President Kibaki’s administration and possibly in Kenya’s history.
Before his political career, Khalif, an alumnus of Nairobi School and the University of Nairobi, worked as a journalist and government information officer, including a stint with the BBC.
Following his passing, a by-election saw his son Mohammed Khalif, then just 23, elected as MP and later appointed Assistant Minister.
Despite the family’s efforts to seek compensation for Khalif’s death, their case was dismissed in 2009 for being time-barred.
In the years since Khalif’s passing, representation from the North Eastern region in the Cabinet has grown.
Notable figures include the late Yusuf Haji as Defence Minister, Aden Duale, who transitioned from Defence to Environment, and Ukur Yattani from Marsabit, who served as Finance Cabinet Secretary.
These appointments reflect a continued effort to enhance regional inclusion in national governance.
Meet Ahmed Khalif: Tragic Story of Kenyan Minister Who Barely Served 20 Days
