Ruto Appoints All 50 CASs Less Than One Week After Nomination

President William Ruto has appointed all 50 candidates who were nominated for the position of Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) on Thursday, March 16.

In a statement by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed on Wednesday, March 22, the CASs were appointed following communication from the Speaker that the National Assembly cannot vet them since there is no legal provision requiring the vetting.

"It is notified that the Speaker of the National Assembly has referred back to the Appointing Authority the Transmittal of the Nominees for Appointment to the rank of Chief Administrative Secretaries. The Speaker's Memorandum notes as follows," the statement read in part.

President William Ruto with CAS nominee for Investments, Trade and Industry Evans Kidero. /WILLIAM RUTO

Mohamed explained that the obligation to respect the Constitution enjoins the Parliament to stay away from assuming and discharging a role not expressly assigned by the Constitution.

"The obligation to respect, uphold and defend the Constitution enjoins the House to refrain from assuming and discharging a role that it has not been expressly assigned by the Constitution or written law. In that regard, the National Assembly is unable to vet the nominees in the absence of an express constitutional or statutory requirement to do so," Mohamed quoted the Speaker's Memorandum.

As a consequence of the referral by the Speaker of the National Assembly which has found that there is no constitutional or statutory basis upon which the August House can vet the nominees, the Head of State and Government has caused the appointment of the nominees to various Ministries as earlier notified.

To facilitate the ascension of the Chief Administrative Secretaries to Office, the State Appointees are now scheduled to subscribe to their solemn Oath of Office.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court on Thursday, February 16 dismissed a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) challenging the creation of the CAS post.

Justice Monica Mbaru ruled that the Public Service Commission (PSC) followed the due process of the law in creating and recruiting the intended officeholders, a ruling that gave the green light for the nomination and subsequent appointment of the CASs.