Wetangula Recalls All MPs For Special Sitting On Ruto's CS Nominees

Members of Parliament are set to be recalled for a special sitting on Thursday, January 16 as scheduled by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, a matter that will see them cut short their long recess temporarily.

Wetangula, via a notice issued on Wednesday morning, January 8, stated that the sittings shall commence on January 16 at 10 am for the morning session and 2.30 pm for the afternoon session.

The agenda for the day includes debating the report of the Committee on Appointments regarding its review of nominees for Cabinet Secretary positions as announced by President William Ruto.

''On January 3, 2025, I received and acceded to a request from the Leader of the Majority Party to appoint Thursday, 16th January 2025 as a day for Special Sittings of the National Assembly.

''It is hereby notified to all Members of the National Assembly and the general public that Thursday, January 16, 2025, has been appointed as a day for Special Sittings of the National Assembly. The Special Sittings will be held in the National Assembly Chamber, Main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, commencing at 10.00 am and at 2.30 pm (for the morning and afternoon sittings, respectively),” Wetang'ula stated.

The special sitting directive comes after Majority Leader and Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah made a special request for the same under the business order.

According to the notice, the lawmakers will be forced to cut short their holiday recess for the sessions to consider priority business.

The house is also expected to receive a tabled report and notice of motion on the mediated version of the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (Senate Bill No. 19 of 2024) – subject to the conclusion of the mediation process.

According to the notice, the August House will also sit to consider a report that will be tabled by the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations on its consideration of nominees for various diplomatic jobs by the President.

''Tabling of Report and Notice of Special Motion on the Report of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on its consideration of nominees for appointment as High Commissioners, Ambassadors, Permanent Representative and Consul-General,'' the notice added.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly Committee on Appointments is set to conduct approval hearings for the CS nominees on January 14, 2025. The nominees include Mutahi Kagwe, a former Health Cabinet Secretary under retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, whom Ruto nominated to head the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. 

Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has been designated for the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, while former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui has been proposed to lead the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry.

The nominees for appointment as High Commissioners, Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives, and Consul-General include former Cabinet Secretaries Andrew Karanja, Margaret Nyambura, Ababu Namwamba, and former Administration Police boss Noor Gabow, among others, which will be handled by the departmental committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations.

Departmental Committee on Labour will also table its consideration of nominees for appointment as Vice Chairperson and members of the Public Service Commission(PSC) and Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

The Startup Bill (Senate Bill No. 14 of 2022); and The Persons with Disabilities Bill (Senate Bill No. 7 of 2023) will also be discussed during the sessions.

Collage of Lee Kinyanui, Mutahi Kagwe and William Kabogo nominated to Cabinet positions by President William Ruto. /NTV