Parliament Approves 19 Cabinet Secretary Nominees

UPDATE: The National Assembly has unanimously voted for the approval of 19 out of 20 individuals nominated as Cabinet Secretaries by President William Ruto. The nomination of Stella Soi Lang'at for the Gender docket has been rejected.

Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah announced the committee’s decision, endorsing 19 of President Ruto’s 20 nominees. This significant development came as President Ruto pushed through his commitment to form a broad-based government, incorporating five members from Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to connect political sides.

“THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Committee on Appointments in its Second Report on the vetting of the nominees for appointment to the Offices of Cabinet Secretaries, laid on the Table of the House today, Wednesday, August 2024, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 152(2) of the Constitution and sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval Act, 2011.”

“This House rejects the appointment of Ms. Stella Soi Lang’at as the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts & Heritage,” Ichung’wah said on Wednesday while giving a notice of the motion to approve the nominees. 

The National Assembly Committee on Appointments has approved 19 Cabinet Secretary nominees picked by President William Ruto to occupy positions in his Cabinet.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah read the approvals on Wednesday, August 7. However, the nomination of Stella Soi Lang'at as the Cabinet Secretary nominee for Gender, Arts and Culture was rejected.

"Honourable Speaker, I beg to lay the following paper on the table of the house today, August 7, 2024, the second report of the Committee of Appointments on the vetting of persons for appointment to the Offices of Secretaries volumes 1, 2, 3A and 3B," the Majority Leader stated.

The list of those approved now includes:

1. Kithure Kindiki - Interior
   2. Debra Barasa - Health
   3. Alice Wahome - Lands
   4. Julius Migos  - Education
   5. Soipan Tuya - Defence
   6. Andrew Karanja - Agriculture
   7. Aden Duale - Environment
   8. Eric Mugaa - Water
   9. Davis Chirchir - Roads
   10. Margaret Ndung'u - ICT
   11. John Mbadi - Treasury
   12. Salim Mvurya - Investments and Trade
   13. Rebecca Miano - Tourism
   14. Opiyo Wandayi - Energy
   15. Kipchumba Murkomen -  Sports
   16, Hassan Joho - Mining
   17. Alfred Mutua - Labour
   18. Wycliffe Oparanya - MSMEs
   19. Justin Muturi - Public Service

Notably, the approved list contains those who were formally members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, a move many believe is a threat to opposition politics in the country.

In the new lineup, ex-ODM Chairman John Mbadi will be in charge of the nation's public coffers while former deputy party leaders Joho and Oparanya will be in charge of Mining and Cooperative dockets respectively.

Additionally, Ugenya MP Wandayi will relinquish his position as the National Assembly Minority Leader to take up the position of Energy and Petroleum.

The vetting process came against the backdrop of an aggressive push by Kenyans to ensure only leaders of integrity join the Cabinet.

The dissolution of the previous Cabinet by President Ruto followed weeks of sustained protests from Kenyans who demanded far-reaching reforms including an overhaul of the Cabinet.

The protests led by Gen Z and millennials forced the President to fire 11 of his former CSs as part of his concessions.

The committee on appointments generated the report after concluding the approval hearings on Sunday having vetted 20 Cabinet nominees.

Lawmakers were expected to debate the report later on Wednesday before taking a vote to adopt, reject or amend it accordingly. Once approved, the names will be forwarded to the President for appointment.

If a nominee is rejected, the President is required to submit a new name that will go through the vetting process.

Cabinet Secretary nominee for Gender, Arts and Culture Stella Lang'at before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments for vetting at County Hall in Nairobi on August 4, 2024. /PARLIAMENT KENYA