Parliament Invites Kenyans To Submit Views On Ruto's CSs- Here's How

The nominees include those named as Attorney General and Secretary to the Cabinet as well as the Prime Cabinet Secretary.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Oct 7, 2022 - 07:35 Updated: Oct 7, 2022 - 07:57
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Parliament Invites Kenyans To Submit Views On Ruto's CSs- Here's How
President William Ruto with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and newly appointed Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. /WILLIAM RUTO

The National Assembly has opened the floor to members of the public to participate in the vetting process of Cabinet Secretaries (CS) nominated by President William Ruto on Tuesday, September 27.

In a statement, the Committee on Appointments in the National Assembly invited members of the public to give their views through a written statement on oath coupled with supporting evidence that contests their suitability to the Cabinet.

The nominees include those named as Attorney General and Secretary to the Cabinet as well as the Prime Cabinet Secretary.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi during a past address. /FILE

"The Committee on Appointments invites the public to submit any representation by written statement on oath (affidavit) with supporting evidence, contesting the suitability of persons nominated to the Cabinet including those nominated as Attorney General & Secretary to the Cabinet," read the statement dated Friday, October 7.

How to Give Your Views

The representations may be forwarded to the Clerk of the National Assembly through the post office and may be hand-delivered to the Office of the Clerk at the Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.

Alternatively, they can be sent through email to [email protected].

The affidavits must be received on or before Friday, October 14, 2022, at 5 pm.

Azimio la Umoja's leadership had previously directed their Members of Parliament to withdraw the approval of Ruto's nominated CSs with court cases.

"Nomination was not procedurally done, on the basis of competencies and personal integrity and we shall direct our MPs to withhold approval of those who do not meet the Chapter Six threshold of our Constitution," said Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Friday, September 30.

Some of the nominees include former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa who was nominated as CS for Public Service. In 2019, Jumwa was charged with murder over the death of Gumbao Jola in Ganda, Malindi Constituency. 

Another is former Meru Senator and the nominee for the Agriculture docket, Mithika Linturi, was also arraigned in court, in February 2022 over remarks bordering on hate speech.

Linturi was however given a reprieve after a woman who had accused her of attempted rape withdrew her case against him on Monday, October 3.

The 36-year-old woman had accused the former Meru senator of attempting to rape her at Maiyan Villas Hotel in Nanyuki on January 30, 2021. She had claimed that Linturi had entered a room she was sharing with her husband in the hotel and attempted to rape her when her husband was away.

Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi had allowed the withdrawal of the case under Section 40 of the Sexual Offences Act after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirmed that they were aware of the agreement details between the two.

The vetting process in Parliament was expected to take more than a month for the CSs to assume office. MPs in 2020 amended the law to change the number of days required to vet Cabinet Secretaries. The new nominees will thus be evaluated for 28 days, two more weeks than the 14 days stipulated before.

The 2010 Constitution in Chapter 9, Section 152 dictates that the Cabinet consists of not fewer than 14 and not more than 22 Cabinet Secretaries.

It also bars a CS from being a Member of Parliament. This means that if Elgeyo Marakwet senator, Kipchumba Murkomen, MPs Aden Duale (Garissa Township) and Alice Wahome (Kandara)'s appointment goes through, they will have to resign to join Cabinet. 

Former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa. /DAILY NATION

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