KENYA : The National Assembly has announced the dates for vetting the recently nominated Cabinet Secretary nominees, ambassadorial candidates and members of the Public Service Commission.
In an announcement on Tuesday, December 24, Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge said the sessions will begin in January 2025, with different committees responsible for the evaluations.
According to the announcement, the Committee on Appointments is scheduled to vet nominees for Cabinet Secretary positions on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
The hearings will take place at the Mini Chamber on the first floor of County Hall, Parliament Buildings.
Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development CS nominee Mutahi Kagwe will be vetted at 12 PM while William Kabogo, the CS nominee for the Ministry of Information, Communications & the Digital Economy, will be vetted at 3.
On the other hand, Lee Kinyanjui for the Ministry of Investments, Trade & Industry will appear before the committee at 5 PM.
On Friday, January 10, 2025, the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations will vet nominees for ambassadorial and diplomatic positions in Committee Room 9 at the Main Parliament Buildings.
According to the announcement, Margaret Nyambura Ndug’u who was nominated as Ambassador to Accra, Ghana will appear at 9 AM with Dr. Andrew Karanja, nominee for Ambassador to Brasília, Brazil, expected to face the committee at 11 AM.
Meanwhile, Ababu Namwamba who was nominated for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), is scheduled for vetting at 2 PM.
Lastly, Noor Gabow who was nominated for Ambassador to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, will be vetted at 4PM.
Additionally, the Clerk of the National Assembly announced that the Departmental Committee on Labour will vet nominees for Public Service Commission positions on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
The vetting process will kick off at 8:30 AM in Committee Room 9 at the Main Parliament Buildings.
The vetting includes the Vice-Chairperson position and multiple Member roles within the Commission.
The Clerk of the National Assembly encouraged members of the public to participate in the vetting process by submitting written statements to support or contest the suitability of any nominee.
The submissions must include supporting evidence and be delivered to the Clerk of the National Assembly, either by hand or via email at cna@parliament.go.ke, no later than January 3, 2025, at 5PM.
Further, all nominees are required to present themselves for the vetting process with their original identification cards, academic and professional certificates, and evidence of compliance from institutions such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Higher Education Loans Board, the Registrar of Political Parties, and a Credit Reference Bureau.
In Related News, The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has reflected on President William Ruto’s recent cabinet changes.
In a press release shared on Saturday, December 21, 2024, the commission took issue with Ruto’s recent appointments saying the nominations violate gender and ethnic balance.
The commission observed that with the appointments of Mutahi Kagwe, Lee Kinyanjui and William Kabogo, the Head of State was outrightly breaching ethnic inclusivity as the three are from the Mount Kenya region.
“Ruto nominated former governors William Kabogo, Lee Kinyanjui, Nderitu Muriithi and former Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to different government positions. Others nominated to various posts included Margaret Nyambura, Andrew Karanja, and former Muranga Senator Kembi Gitura. With the new CS nominations, the Mt Kenya region Is poised to dominate the cabinet,” KHRC said in a statement.
“If the National Assembly approves Kabogo, Kinyanjui, and Kagwe, they will join Justin Muturi, Rebecca Miano, Alice Wahome, and Eric Muriithi in the Cabinet. When the deputy president is included, eight cabinet members will be from the Mt Kenya region, constituting 34.7 per cent of the Cabinet.” It added.
The lobby also chastised Ruto’s appointments saying he had failed to adhere to the gender balance requirement stipulated in the Constitution as only five out of 20 CSs were women.
“Only five out of the 20 CSs are women, representing 25 per cent. There are only six women in the entire cabinet of 23 individuals,” the commission said.
Adding;
“Any attempt by Ruto to unilaterally select cabinet members without reflecting the diversity, equity and inclusivity mandated by the constitution undermines the people’s sovereignty and the principles of democracy.
“Such actions contravene the public’s trust and the obligation to exercise power in their interest. Article 10 of the Constitution identifies the key national values and principles of governance, including patriotism and national unity.”
Further, the commission called on Kenyans to reject Ruto appointments explaining that the move depicts a self-serving, discriminatory and exclusive governance model falsely presented as an all-inclusive government.
“In reality, it is a fully-fledged elitist rulership that contradicts his “hustlers vs dynasties” narrative during the campaign,” they added.