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Live blog: MPs vet Ruto's cabinet nominees

Live blog: MPs vet Ruto's cabinet nominees
Members of Parliament during a past session. (Photo: National Assembly)

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The four-day exercise will see both reappointed CSs and new faces appear before the National Assembly's Committee on Appointments, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.

Members of Parliament on Thursday begin the vetting process for President William Ruto's Cabinet Secretary nominees.

The four-day exercise will see both reappointed CSs and new faces appear before the National Assembly's Committee on Appointments, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.

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The Eastleigh Voice will give live updates of the process as MPs grill the cabinet nominees.

7:41 pm: Her net worth stands at Sh243 million, up from Sh156 million 20 months ago.

7:20 pm: If approved, Tuya says she will endeavour to raise the issue of the recruitment malpractices within KDF for proper address.

7:00 pm: On whether she is fit for the job ahead, Tuya says: "I can give assurance that I am a team player and a fast learner and will be ready to critically understand operations of the service without interfering with those very distinct roles of the military, my consultative style will boost my understanding of the operations of the Military will be sufficient as I have no background in defence."

6:40 pm: Tuya says she has no military background but she is a team player by design and practice. "I am also very consultative in my leadership philosophy and these are skill sets that I will have to employ heavily in terms of the need to understand the operational and administrative role of the uniformed side of the Ministry."

6:20 pm: Defence CS nominee Roselinda Soipan Tuya admits she has the requisite training and experience for the job if approved by the MPs.

Defence CS nominee Roselinda Soipan Tuya appearing before MPs for vetting. (National Assembly)

"The array of service that I have had, occasioned to be in both the public and private sector, and the civil service as a CS really posture me for this position as Cabinet nominee for Defense."

6:00 pm: Ogamba says he is worth Sh790 million, mainly in the form of land.

 5:45 pm: Ogamba also faulted the national government particularly the Treasury for delaying capitation funds in schools which he said negatively impacts students' education. He suggested that the solution involves securing the Ministry's budget through an agreement with the Treasury and Parliament.

“The issue of capitation is a problem that is of a national nature caused by lack of enough resources. A way to resolve this would be agreeing with treasury through Parliament that the sums of the budget of the Ministry be ring-fenced because it is a sensitive ministry so that it is released on time and in totality,” he said.

5:30 pm: He says: "It is imperative that we arrest the teachers' strike threat by ensuring that we have clear and forthright discussions with the teachers' unions so that we come up with a solution."

5:15 pm: On Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers strike: "I will ensure there is clear and forth write discussion with the Unions to ensure we come up with a solution even if is to defer some of their needs so that they do not go on strike."

5:05 pm: If approved, Ogamba says he shall ensure that there is strict implementation of the policies to stop schools from increasing school fees. "Others flout this regulation. We shall therefore ensure that we have a strict implementation of the policies by ensuring a watertight disciplinary mechanism for those who flout the policies."

4:55 pm: On the school feeding program, Ogamba says the ministry should come up with policies that allow inter-government agencies eg the Kenya Meat Commission and the cereals board to use the money they have to support children.

4:41 pm: He acknowledged that the education sector is plagued by inadequate funding. "And the only way of overcoming this problem that is bedevilling the sector is to increase funding... There is no clear audit on how many students we have and the resources that can be allocated to them."

4:30 pm: Samburu West MP Lesuuda Naisula posed a question on the New University Funding Model. Ogamba says he supports the new funding model, insisting that if students or parents can fund their education, then they should and the government can cater for the less fortunate.

4:27 pm: Education CS nominee Julius Ogamba says Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is a good program, that nurtures students' talent and maintains he is a suitable candidate for the role.

3:44 pm - The National Assembly Committee of Appointments concludes vetting the Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development CS nominee Alice Wahome.

3:42 pm - On her net worth, Wahome said her net worth now stands at Sh327 million which was an increase from the Sh218 million she said during her last vetting in 2022.

2:20 pm - Wahome says it is practically not possible within the law for her to change land tenure from freehold to leasehold, but with the owner’s consent, it is possible.

"What raised concern is the proposal to levy freehold ownership within our cities," she said.

1:52 pm - On the Ardhi Sasa digitisation system within the Ministry of Lands, the CS nominee says it is meant to bring efficiency to secure land records and provide assurance that the security of the records will be protected with integrity.

1:36 pm - The National Assembly Committee of Appointments begins vetting the Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development CS nominee Alice Wahome. She is meeting the vetting panel for the second time in two years. Wahome holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Nairobi.

Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development CS nominee Alice Wahome.

1:12 pm - The National Assembly Committee of Appointments concludes vetting the Health CS nominee Debra Barasa.

1:11 pm - The Health CS nominee says her net worth is Sh455 million but clarifies that it is a combined figure with her husband.

12:40 pm - Barasa says her first agenda will be to review and identify what is contributing to the retention of the deceased and barring of recovered patients until payment is done.

Health Cabinet Secretary nominee Debra Mulongo Barasa during her vetting before the National Assembly's Committee on Appointments on August 1, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

12:30 pm - "My daughter and I are beneficiaries of Linda Mama and I will ensure that it is incorporated if SHIF is rolled out," Brasa said in response to Likoni MP Mishi Mboko's question on the programme.

12:00 pm - The Health CS nominee says the current primary care networks in the country are weak and need to be strengthened.

"We need to embrace universal health coverage at the community level," she said.

11:42 am - On the perennial issue of the doctors' strike, the CS nominee says the government needs to look for long-term solutions.

"I don't have a solution but we need to have a situational analysis and make action plans and work with unions," she said.

11:36 am - Barasa says she will take a consultative approach in regard to the gaps and challenges facing the shift from NHIF to SHIF.

"It is critical to bring all stakeholders together. We also need to involve the community and ensure they are well-informed," she said.

"I have seen the strength of having processes and procedures. We should have a digital platform that reduces human-to-human interactions."

11:25 am - In her introduction, Barasa says she is a qualified medical doctor with more than 18 years of medical expertise and a public health professional background. Dr. Barasa holds a Master of Medicine Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi.

11:24 am - The National Assembly Committee of Appointments begins vetting the CS nominee for Health Dr Debra Mlongo Barasa.

10:56 am - The National Assembly Committee of Appointments concludes vetting the Interior CS nominee Kithure Kindiki.

10:45 am - Speaker Moses Wetangula asks Kithure Kindiki not to answer a question on why President Ruto nominated Douglas Kanja as IG despite being over 60 years old after a question posed by Suna East MP Junet Mohammed on the age of the police boss.

"Nominee on the issue of the IG, I direct you not to answer the question because I have received communication from the President nominating Douglas Kanja, and he will be vetted by a committee of Parliament and those questions can be raised there. If you answer that, it will be prejudiced for what is coming. Answer the other questions," the Speaker directed.

10:40 am - On the passports issue, Kindiki said they no longer have a backlog. "We’re issuing passports within 7 days starting August 1. We complied with this deadline four weeks ago," he said.

The CS nominee further stated that the next goal should he be confirmed as CS is to reduce the passport waiting period to three days by November 1, 2024.

"We are on course. Of course, there are small challenges here and there. We have not eradicated corrupt staff," Kindiki added.

10:30 am - On the government's push to shift to digital IDs, Kindiki said they have suffered disruptions because of a technology change.

"The current generation of IDs cannot be recognised outside this country. The move to newer and safer technology has caused disruption."

Interior Cabinet Secretary Nominee, Prof. Kithure Kindiki before the Committee on Appointment at the County Hall, Mini-Chamber on August 1, 2028. (Photo: Kithure Kindiki)

10:05 am - While responding to Kathiani MP Robert Mbui's question on the issue of taking responsibility and resigning during the peak of anti-government protests, Kindiki said he never thought of resigning despite pressure from the public.

"In the example of the attempted assassination of Trump, the director of the secret service resigned, but we never saw the minister of security resigning," Kindiki said.

"Nobody asked her (the US Director of the Secret Service) to resign because ministers don't instruct operations; they instruct policy. I can only resign if my policy instruction was illegal or unconstitutional."

9:45 am: On Kenya's deployment of police to Haiti, Prof Kindiki said the move is an international obligation that has not affected the country's operations.

"It is not true to say that since there are problems in Kenya, we cannot also do our international obligations. All countries in the world have security issues. It is a great honour for our officers to serve in Haiti. So far they are doing a good job. I believe that they will profile Kenya properly and will bring honour to our country," he said.

9:40 am: On concerns about the increase of his wealth by Sh150 million since his last vetting 21 months ago, Kindiki says he has not benefited from any improper business. His last declaration of wealth was indicated to be Sh544 million. His current net worth now stands at Sh694 million.

"I have not done any business with the government. I have not applied for any tender by myself or by a proxy. My law firm is alive and working. Much of that revenue comes from my law firm," he said.

9:30 am: On concerns of extra-judicial killings, Prof Kindiki says during his tenure, he has made it clear to the police that abductions and extra-judicial killings are against government policy and the Constitution.

"In the event there are reported infractions and excess, IPOA and other accountability measures must be put in place," he said.

9:15 am: On the issue of the Parliament invasion by anti-government protestors on June 25, Prof Kindiki said the police tried their best to protect the country against criminals, including those who visited Parliament and wanted to kill parliamentarians.

"It is unfortunate during the recent protests we witnessed the death of 42 Kenyans…the police tried their best to protect the country against mobs of criminals," he said.

The CS nominee said the calling of KDF was a precaution because "the criminals who burnt Parliament were also threatening to burn State House".

"If that was not reason enough to put KDF on standby legally, I don’t think any other situation would have met the threshold," he said.

8:58 am: Kindiki says the Shakahola incident didn't happen when it became public and is an indictment to the country. Says he has apologised on behalf of previous and present administrations for the breach that occurred in 2019 and 2020.

The CS nominee says they have learnt lessons from the incident that will remain a major security breach in the country's history and his priority will make sure that security managers will be held accountable for the incident.

"The public officials including security officers, who were in charge must have their day in being made accountable," he said.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Nominee, Prof. Kithure Kindiki before the Committee on Appointment at the County Hall, Mini-Chamber on August 1, 2028. (Photo: Kithure Kindiki)

8:54 am: In relation to Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa's question on the recent confrontations between the police and the public, Kindiki says he has already drafted regulations that will see security provided for protestors with regard to picketing and ensure protestors are responsible for their own conduct.

"Work should be done to ensure that the people of Kenya enjoy their constitutional right to protest. Police will be obligated to escort protestors and provide security," he said.

8:45 am: Prof Kindiki says that the National Taskforce on Police Reforms chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga Taskforce made 221 recommendations that require administrative action, 178 recommendations which require funding but do not require any changes in law or policy, 177 recommendations which may not require funding but may require policy changes and 23 recommendations that require concurrence with the National Security Council.

The CS nominee says his ministry rolled out a massive Police Equipment Modernisation Programme which will be rolled out in five years.

"We were able to convince the government and the Treasury to allocate Sh7 billion which has already been spent to buy air and land assets," he says.

During his tenure, Kindiki says he has been able to operationalise the National Police Service Hospital and National Police Academy.

"I believe I’m suitable for reappointment because, during those 21 months in office, I've been able to keep the country fairly safe, especially in the fight against terror and also, the crime of banditry has reduced by more than 75 per cent," he said.

8:40 am: Prof Kithure Kindiki in his introduction says he has a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) from Moi University, Kenya, a Ph.D (International Law) from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the same University of Pretoria, South Africa and a Diploma in Legal Studies, Kenya School of Law.

8:26 am: The Committee on Appointment kicks off the Approval Hearings at the County Hall, Mini-Chamber.

The first on the hot seat is Interior Cabinet Secretary Nominee, Prof. Kithure Kindiki who will be facing the vetting panel for the second time in two years for the same docket.

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