Ruto's PS Nominee Allegedly Fronted By Husband MP Withdraws

The changes have been communicated to the National Assembly on Thursday, November 10 through a letter addressed to Speaker Moses Wetangula.

Ruto's PS Nominee Allegedly Fronted By Husband MP Withdraws
President William Ruto addressing the COP 27 conference in Egypt on Monday, November 7, 2022. /WILLIAM RUTO

President William Ruto has announced that Caroline Nyawira has withdrawn her candidature for the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Correctional Services.

The changes have been communicated to the National Assembly on Thursday, November 10 through a letter addressed to Speaker Moses Wetangula.

Wetangula pointed out that the Head of State has replaced her with Mary Muthoni in the capacity, adding that the decision to have Nyawira replaced was informed by her expression of disinterest in participating in the process.

"The President has nominated Miss Mary Muthoni Muriuki for appointment as PS for the state department of correctional services. He indicates that Caroline Nyawira Murage withdrew her candidature for this position.

A poster rebuking MP George Kariuki's nomination of his wife as Kirinyaga County PS. /FILE

"The president seeks approval for this nominee by NA for appointment and requests that her approval is undertaken on a priority basis," Wetangula stated.

The Speaker further directed that Muthoni's name be circulated across local newspapers before she is vetted by the Committee on Appointments.

"I direct the clerk on the NA to take the necessary action by notifying the nominee and the general public by placing an advert in the daily newspapers of national circulation on Friday, November 11, 2022," he directed.

Wetangula also directed that the vetting committee tables a report before the floor of the house before November 29, 2022, before the MPs proceed for recess.

Nyawira was among 51 nominees whose names were submitted to Parliament for vetting and consequent approval to the state department under the Ministry of Interior.

She was allegedly nominated by a Member of Parliament (MP) to a Principal Secretary (PS) role in Kirinyaga County, which sparked uproar online.

Reports that had reached Viral Tea's newsdesk revealed that the lawmaker, George Kariuki, nominated Nyawira, his wife, for the Kirinyaga County job.

A poster seen by Viral Tea and circulated across social media platforms revealed that Nyawira was one of three from Kariuki's family line nominated to highly coveted positions in Kirinyaga County.

She was one of 12 women nominated by the President for the PS job ahead of vetting and appointment, making up 23.5 per cent of the nominees.

The PS is one of the state's key top public servants, helping Cabinet Secretaries in delivering government services to Kenyans.

Outgoing IEBC Commissioner Boya Molu, outgoing Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi and former nominated Senator, Isaac Mwaura left out of PS Nominees by President Ruto. /FILE