{{Short description|Kenyan politician}} '''Daniel Kazungu Muzee''' (born 1970 in Kavilani, Marikano Lower Malindi) is a Kenyan politician and Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Mining. He was a member of the 11th national assembly of Kenya elected from Malindi Constituency, Kilifi County on the ticket of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in 2013. He failed his reelection to the national assembly in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gachie |first=Laban Thua |date=2016-04-27 |title=Dan Kazungu Muzee - Biography, Cabinet Secretary, Mining Ministry |url=https://kenyanlife.com/dan-kazungu-muzee/ |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=Kenyan Life |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=African |first=New |date=2016-04-25 |title=Kenya elections: turbulence ahead |url=https://newafricanmagazine.com/11701/ |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=New African Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Education and career == Dan Muzee was born in 1970 in Kavilani in Marikano Lower Malindi in Kilifi County. He started his early education at Marikano Primary School and studied up to grade 3 before he transferred to Lango Baya Primary School where he earned his first school leaving certificate. He had his secondary education at Kwale High School and studied for a bachelor's degree and master's degree in Information Science at Moi University. After graduation, he worked at the Institute of Advanced Technology as a training consultant for a year before moving to Computec where he was deployed to a United Nations agency. He later joined Fintec International where he was sales representative of Microsoft and Compaq across East Africa region before switching to IBM in New York where he was in charge of Personal Computing Division in East Africa. From IBM he moved to Lenovo Corporation East Africa as regional manager before returning to IBM where he finally served as country representative for Ethiopia and Kenya.<ref>{{Cite web |last=myleader.co.ke |title=Dan Kazungu Muzee, for Governor Kilifi County |url=https://www.myleader.co.ke/kilifi-county-governors/1545-dan-kazungu-muzee-for-governor-kilifi-county |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=My Leader Kenya (MLK) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Engineering News - Africa Mining Vision initiative gaining traction one year on |url=https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/print-version/africa-mining-vision-initiative-gaining-traction-one-year-on-2017-02-08 |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=Engineering News |language=en}}</ref>
He started his political career in 2010 and campaigned door to door until 2013 when he ran and won Malindi parliamentary seat in the Kenya National Assembly on the ticket of the Orange Democratic Party. In the house, he served on the committees on Departmental Committee on Energy, Communications and Information and was a member of parliamentary committee on regional integration. In 2015, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him to the cabinet despite being an active member of the ODM replacing Najib Balala as cabinet secretary, Ministry of Mining.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-03 |title=Cabinet Secretary nominees Charles Keter, Dan Kazungu resign after House approval |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/news/politics/cabinet-secretary-nominees-charles-keter-dan-kazungu-resign-after-house-approval-1154570 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Nation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=WANAMBISI |first=LABAN |date=2015-12-16 |title=Keter, Kazungu quit politics as MPs approve Cabinet jobs |url=https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2015/12/keter-kazungu-quit-politics-as-mps-approve-cabinet-jobs/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Capital News |language=en-US}}</ref> He is the first cabinet minister from Malindi region since independence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Africa Mining Vision finds support of governments, private companies |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/mining/africa-mining-vision-finds-support-of-governments-private-companies-57040 |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=www.downtoearth.org.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-14 |title=Dan Kazungu: A calm and committed man of action – Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board |url=https://cabinets.kenyayearbook.co.ke/2022/08/14/dan-kazungu-a-calm-and-committed-man-of-action/ |access-date=2023-11-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In January 2018, during a government restructuring by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Dan Kazungu was nominated as the High Commissioner representing Kenya in the United Republic of Tanzania.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Obura |first=Fredrick |title=CS Dan Kazungu welcomes new assignment as High Commissioner |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business-news/article/2001267682/outgoing-mining-cs-ready-to-improve-kenya-tanzania-relations |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref> This nomination marked the end of his tenure as a Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Mining.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-26 |title=Uhuru Kenyatta's full statement on new Cabinet |url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/uhuru-kenyattas-full-statement-on-new-cabinet-189331 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Citizen Digital |language=en-KE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-06 |title=Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta names more Cabinet secretaries |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/kenya-s-uhuru-kenyatta-names-more-cabinet-secretaries-1382672 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=The EastAfrican |language=en}}</ref> As an ambassador, he played a key role in enhancing the relations between the two neighbouring countries, in a period that had the countries' relations threatened by issues such as trade bans and border closures.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-19 |title=Kenya's Ambassador to Tanzania Dan Kazungu defends border closure |url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/kenyas-ambassador-to-tanzania-dan-kazungu-defends-border-closure-333132 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Citizen Digital |language=en-KE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-01 |title=Kenya calls for improved relations with Tanzania |url=https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/kenya-calls-for-improved-relations-with-tanzania-2709456 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-13 |title=Trade war: Kenya bans importation of rice from Tanzania |url=https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/-trade-war-kenya-bans-importation-of-rice-from-tanzania-2655914 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tanzania, Kenya downplay trade war media reports |url=https://www.trademarkafrica.com/news/tanzania-kenya-downplay-trade-war-media-reports/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=TradeMark Africa |language=en-US}}</ref> His diplomatic efforts won him accolades from the then President of Tanzania, The Late John Magufuli.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Magufuli reveals admiration for Dan Kazungu, says he would hire him in an instant |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ureport/article/2001372274/magufuli-reveals-admiration-for-dan-kazungu-says-he-would-hire-him-in-an-instant |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-21 |title=Magufuli Heaps Praise on Kenyan Ambassador Dan Kazungu [VIDEO] - Kenyans.co.ke |url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/53487-magufuli-heaps-praise-kenyan-ambassador-dan-kazungu-video |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.kenyans.co.ke |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=cfeditoren |date=2020-05-24 |title=Removal of Tanzania's envoy to Kenya leaves questions |url=https://www.africa-press.net/tanzania/policy/removal-of-tanzanias-envoy-to-kenya-leaves-questions |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Tanzania |language=en-US}}</ref> He served as the High Commissioner to Tanzania until 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kenyan Ambassador Dan Kazungu to Tanzania resigns |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-03-04-kenyan-ambassador-dan-kazungu-to-tanzania-resigns |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402150150/https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-03-04-kenyan-ambassador-dan-kazungu-to-tanzania-resigns/ |archive-date=2022-04-02 |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=The Star |language=en-KE |url-status=live }}</ref>
Since March 2022, Dan Kazungu actively serves as a Non-executive Director and the regional consultant for Caracal Gold PLC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Contributor |first=Guest |date=2022-03-07 |title=Former Kenya Ambassador to Tanzania appointed to Caracal Gold board |url=https://www.miningreview.com/gold/former-kenya-ambassador-to-tanzania-appointed-to-caracal-gold-board/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Miningreview.com |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=Alliance |date=2022-03-07 |title=EXECUTIVE CHANGES: CPP promotes to CFO; Caracal adds former ambassador |url=https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1646660041671514800/executive-changes-cpp-promotes-to-cfo;-caracal-adds-former-ambassador.aspx |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=MorningstarUK |language=en-GB}}</ref> His role aims at advising the mining company on its business activities in East and Central Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-09 |title=Former Uhuru CS Appointed to Global Company Listed in London - Kenyans.co.ke |url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/73724-former-uhuru-cs-appointed-global-company-listed-london |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.kenyans.co.ke |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=week |first=Stay up to date on the editors' picks of the |date=2022-03-08 |title=Former CS Kazungu gets board seat at gold miner |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/companies/former-cs-kazungu-gets-board-seat-at-gold-miner-3741418 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Business Daily |language=en}}</ref> The company owns the Kilimapesa gold mine in Kenya.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Investegate |title=Corporate Governance and Board Changes Update {{!}} Company Announcement {{!}} Investegate |url=https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/caracal-gold--gcat/corporate-governance-and-board-changes-update-/7571042 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.investegate.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muzee, Dan}} Category:Living people Category:1970 births Category:Members of the National Assembly (Kenya) Category:Orange Democratic Movement politicians Category:Moi University alumni