I came across his story...
February–December 1961: George Taylor University, Melbourne, Australia;
February 1962 – Dec 1964: University of Melbourne, Australia: Bachelor of Commerce, Diploma in Public Administration: majored in Economics and Political Science.
March 1966–68: Commonwealth scholarship. Studied Masters in Economics at University of Melbourne, Australia (MCom (Prl).
Biwott's achievements that no one talks about:
As DO Nkubu in 1965:
He was instrumental in starting community fund-raising programmes to aid the development of local irrigation projects and roads, he built a health centre at Nkwene and schools at Nkubu and Kanyakini,he developed employment at the Egoji quarries and promoted the planting of coffee and tea in the region
He was also actively involved in the resettlement of previously European owned land through the 'Land Transfer' programme, part of the 'Million Acres' scheme, and played a central role in the rehabilitation of the Mau Mau, many of whom still remained in the Mau Forest four years after the end of the 'Emergency', helping to persuade them to give up violence and organising the resettlement of many on to their own land.
In the Ministry of Agriculture as PA to Agriculture Minister Bruce Mackenzie from 1968:
He coordinated cereal production, the marketing of cereal crops and the management of the Ministry's fertiliser policy, and helped develop research into new strains of wheat and maize more suited to the growing conditions in Kenya.
He played a similar co-ordinating role for the Ministry's work with the East African Council of Ministers (MacKenzie was also a member of the Council), guiding Kenya's policy in the region in the development of ports, railways and the East African Airways.
As Senior Secretary in the Ministry of Finance under Mwai Kibaki from 1972:
He created and headed the External Aid Division and technical assistance program dealing with external resources, bringing in experts and arranging cultural exchanges
He facilitated the establishment of the French School in Nairobi (now called the Lycee Denis Diderot), the French Cultural Centre with the Alliance de Francais, and the German Frederick Ebert Stifftung Foundation in co-operation with the Gurter Institute.
And it goes on and on. Some of the initiatives that Biwott started are still in use now. Pity he soiled himself with the molasses and Ouko sagas...he started well,
In fact the session paper he drafted on the OAU in 1972 is being used by the AU upto now and was ratified as a treaty precedent.
Another one: KEMRI was his brainchild
He is also the one who came up with the concept of and created two regional development authorities, the Lake Basin Development Authority and the Kerio Valley Development Authority.
So so sad. Now you ask anyone of our age about Biwott and we ask 'The murderer?'
He also started the National Oil Corporation and once set up he set up funds to build National Oil storage facilities near Nairobi and connected them to the Mombasa refinery, and was instrumental in extending the pipeline from Nairobi to Kisumu then to Eldoret. His stint as Minister for Energy is the period that saw rapid advances in efforts to improve Kenya's electricity supply and delivery with a rural electrification programme, work beginning on the Sondu Miriu Dam, and the completions of the Masinga Multi Purpose Dam, the Kiambere Hydro Electric Dam and the Turkwell Hydro Electric Multi Purpose Dam for which he obtained grants.
As Minister of Tourism he set up the Tourist Trust Fund with the European Union, set up the Tourist Police and re-introduced the East Africa Safari Rallies.
Biwott's promotion of Kenyan tourism met with a lot of praise. He was described as "the hardest working minister of tourism Kenya has ever had" and as "the best minister of tourism in 25 years" by the UNESCO.
Biwott played a central role in COMESA – the Common Market for East and Central Africa, co-ordinating with COMESA partner Ministers legislation for an East African Road network, legislation for an East African Legislative Assembly, and becoming Chairman of both COMESA and of the East Africa Council of Ministers.
As Minister of Trade he established the Small Medium Trade Trust Fund with the European Union, introduced an Intellectual Property bill which was passed as an Act, accomplished a free trade area with COMESA, established the Africa Trade Insurance Agency to cover foreign investments against political risk, and served as Chairman of the African Caribbean Pacific Group (ACP) at the World Trade Organisation a feat never achieved since by a Kenyan.
Then Ouko was murdered...
possunt quia posse videntur