Kenyans have 7 days to submit views on nominated CSs ahead of vetting

Kenyans have until next week Wednesday, to give their views on the nominated Cabinet Secretaries ahead of their vetting.

This is after President William Ruto on Tuesday officially submitted to the National Assembly names of the 10 Cabinet nominees for consideration and approval by the House.

In a notice on Wednesday, Samuel Njoroge, Clerk of the National Assembly said the statement from the public complies with section 6(9) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, Cap. 7F.

The Act provides that any person may before the approval hearing and by written statement on oath, provide the Clerk with evidence contesting the suitability of a candidate to hold the office to which the candidate has been nominated.

" In compliance with Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution and section 6(9) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, 2011, the Clerk of the National Assembly hereby invites members of the public to submit any representations they may have, by way of written statement on oath (affidavit) with supporting evidence contesting the suitability of any nominee proposed for appointment, reads the notice.

The representations may be forwarded to the Clerk's address of P.O. BOX 41842-00100, Nairobi; hand-delivered to the Office of the Clerk, Main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi: or emailed to [email protected] and appointments, [email protected].

Kenyans have until July 31 2024 at 5 pm.

President Ruto on July 19, 2024, named half the members of his Cabinet a week after sacking his previous Cabinet except for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who also serves as the CS for Foreign Affairs and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Kenya's President William Ruto flanked by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi addresses the nation to announce new Cabinet Secretaries in his government at State House in Nairobi on July 19, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS)

New faces

Among the 11 nominees were five new faces; Eric Muriithi Muuga (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation), Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u (Information, Communication and the Digital Economy), Debra Mlongo Barasa (Health), Julius Migos Ogamba (Education) and Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture and Livestock Development).

The familiar new six faces who served in the previous Cabinet include Aden Duale of Defence who was initially nominated back to the same docket before the President swapped him with Soipan Tuya of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.

The others are Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport) and Alice Wahome (Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development).

However, in the forwarded list to the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, former Trade and Industry CS Rebecca Miano's name was missing for the post of Attorney General.

In his communication to the House, Speaker Wetang'ula said he would forward the names of the 10 nominees and their curriculum vitae to the Committee on Appointments of the House for consideration.

"The Committee on Appointments is expected to immediately notify the nominees and the general public, commence the necessary approval hearings and table its report in the House soonest, to enable the House to consider the nominees within the stipulated timelines," he said.

The Speaker added that the committee is expected, pursuant to section 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, 2011, to consider the matter and table a report in the House within 28 days.

"It is therefore imperative that the Committee on Appointments immediately commences the process of consideration of the nominees," Wetang'ula added.

It is expected that President Ruto will name the rest of the cabinet nominees this week.