I have always considered Gen Julius Karangi the worst chief of Kenya's military. Of course you know that the legend Gen Daudi Chepkonga Rerimoi Tonje will always be the best, but I will repeat it until you die of hearing it.
Let me tell you another story before I come back to that fool Karangi. There are parts of this story that I have already shared here.
When declining a term extension and heading for retirement in 2000, Gen Tonje advised Moi to appoint Lt Gen Daniel Opande, his VCGS, the next CGS. Tonje called Opande to let him know he had recommended him for CGS. At that time, Opande was considered the finest military man in all of Africa, and Tonje thought it would bring so much pride and prestige to the Kenyan military if Opande became CGS.
But Moi immediately called Annan, who had been pestering him to release Opande to the UN mission in Sierra Leone for moths, to come and get his man. Instead, Moi appointed the colourless Joseph Raymond Kibwana of Kenya Navy as CGS. Kibwana would find himself in charge when the delicate transition of 2002 came, but the two military men who ensured a smooth transition were the absolutely principled pair of Army Commander Lt Gen Lazaro Sumbeiywo and his deputy, Maj Gen ASK Njoroge.
Gen Tonje had intended that when the CGS rotation began within the three services, it would begin with Gen Opande of the Army. But once Moi appointed Kibwana of Navy, the next would have to be an Air Force officer. Lt Gen Nick Leshan, a celebrated fighter pilot, was the only one who qualified for promotion, when Kibaki was due to appoint a new CGS. But Kibaki first extended Kibwana's term, retired Leshan and then later appointed Gen Jeremiah Kianga of Army, bypassing the Air Force.
The games had began. In that period, if Kibaki wanted a Kikuyu CGS, he had three Lt Gens to pick from over that period. Lt Gen Njuki Mwaniki, Lt Gen ASK Njoroge (both of whom had become Kenya Army Commanders) and Lt Gen Humphrey Njoroge (Commandant NDC). But he skipped all of them for Kianga. And Kibaki then began a tradition that you can see to date: that of a President waiting to have his tribesmen as CDF at the end of his second term. Mwaniki, Njoroge and Njoroge were all Nyeri Kikuyus (even though the two Njoroges had settled in Nyandarua and Nakuru) like Kibaki. But Kibaki was holding on for Karangi to be CDF at the end of his second term.
Just like Uhuru inherited Karangi from Kibaki, then appointed Mwathethe, but had Kibochi at the end of his rule. Similarly, Ruto could have appointed Lt Gen Albert Kendagor as CDF instead of Ogola, but plans to have a Kalenjin General towards the second term and had to bypass Kendagor. It's now a tradition.
Anyway, long before he was a powerful CDF with political connections, Karangi was the Chief of Procurement at DoD as a Brigadier. He made loads of money. Then he had a privileged service until he became CDF. In 2013, he decided to get involved in the electoral issues, including procurement of the system. He practically babysat the process that gave Uhuru power in 2013. He believed that Raila would never be President as long as he lived. Even after he retired, they posted him to lucrative boards like KAA. The man always followed the money. And tribal politics. He had a major fallout with Uhuru, after he retired, when Uhuru did a handshake with Raila.
All that money has gone down the drain, because Karangi is said to be very sick, in the same manner as the last days of CJ Evan Gicheru, who was said to spend days in the bushes naked and eating leaves. Gicheru was a key player in stealing Raila's victory in 2007 just like Karangi was, five years later. Now Karangi is said to be demented and badly off. It seems everyone who steals Raila's votes ends the same way. Money can't help. In fact, most of the money has been lost.
How sad.