Live blog: MPs vet Ruto's cabinet nominees

The vetting process for President William Ruto's Cabinet Secretary nominees enters Day 2 on Friday.

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

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

7:40 pm: ICT CS nominee Margaret Ndung’u declares her net worth stands at Sh95 million.

7:21 pm: Ndung'u says she will be establishing centres of excellence for software development to enable hackers to use their skills in a meaningful way. "While we've focused on entry-level skills, we need to advance to produce market leaders who can solve our challenges and become 'ethical hackers'."

7:08 pm:  On Data Privacy, Ndung'u says she will work with all the stakeholders to develop data centres where government data can be hosted.

6:53 pm: Ndung'u says she has done research that has informed policies in government ministries like the Communications Authority of Kenya, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and the creation of ICT authority in 2013.

6:45 pm: The ICT CS nominee says she will use a collaborative approach in dealing with how media partakes in its role of disseminating information.

6:35 pm: Ndung'u plans on ensuring inclusion in digital connectivity and addressing cybersecurity in the digital space.

6:25 pm: The Committee on Appointments begins vetting the ICT CS nominee Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u.

6:05 pm - The Committee on Appointments concludes vetting of Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary nominee David Chirchir.

5:58 pm: Chirchir's net worth stands at Sh509 million from Sh482 million.

𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐫: What we have done to bring down the cost of energy? Energy is the biggest contributor to bring down the cost of doing business, a country cannot be competitive if the unit cost of production is high.
We must merge the demand and supply, the demand can… pic.twitter.com/hCOQXEohBe

— National Assembly KE (@NAssemblyKE) August 2, 2024

5:45 pm: Chirchir says he can support the investment in toilets along the highways. "This could actually reduce accidents by certain levels so that people do not drive under pressure."

5:30 pm- To tackle pending bills, Chirchir says Kenya needs to look at securitisation of the little revenue it gets in the road maintenance levy while also exploring other options.

5:08 pm- Regarding youth employment, Chirchir says we need to have policies such that when foreign contractors come to build our roads, Kenyans should participate in the projects.

"If we don't address the question of the youth, it is a time bomb waiting to happen, and it's already happening."

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary nominee David Chirchir appearing before MPs for vetting. (X/National Assembly)

4:52 pm- On public participation, Chirchir says Kenyans must be involved. "There is a need to inculcate public participation from inception so that we do not find ourselves in a situation where we do what we believe is right for the country but the population does not quite understand."

4:40 pm- The Transport CS nominee says the issue of Road maintenance levy is a good thing in terms of the ratio of how it gets to KeNHA, KURA and KeRRA, "but we need to relook into the percentage distribution frameworks supporting them."

4:25 pm- The former Energy CS says KQ needs a lot of government support. He says the government owns about 49% of the shares, if this could go up to 80% and Kenya brings in a partner, it would help salvage the situation.

4:20 pm- Chirchir agrees that the government's decision to pump Sh600 billion into the national carrier to prevent it from collapsing was commendable but unsustainable.

Transport CS nominee, Davis Chirchir: The industrial relations have been a major challenge at KQ. We need to have ownership of the entire management and staff at KQ to understand the challenges. KQ is a very strategic asset with leadership issues. pic.twitter.com/gQqSfw12lS

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) August 2, 2024

4:15 pm- On Kenya Airways, Chirchir promises to ensure the airline is profitable and doesn't make losses moving forward. "I would like to sit down with workers to address the challenges at Kenya Airways... It's a leadership issue and I would like to address that."

4:08 pm- Chirchir says the transport sector is an interesting docket because, unlike the energy docket, there were no pending bills. But the new docket he is moving to has pending bills totalling Sh166 billion.

3:56 pm- As a former Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Chirchir says in the month of July the cost of electricity and petroleum products is the lowest in the country in the last 15 months. "To cut down on the cost of energy, we ensured an energy mix in generation from solar, wind and geothermal."

3:45 pm - The Committee on Appointments begins vetting the Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary nominee David Chirchir.

3:10 pm - The Committee on Appointments concludes vetting of the Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary nominee Eric Mugaa.

3:06 pm - The water CS nominee Eric Mugaa (32 years) says his net worth is Sh31 million. He says he has invested in tea, coffee, banana and miraa farming. He also says he does not own a car.

Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary nominee Eric Mugaa when he appeared before the Appointments Committee on August 2, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

3:00 pm - Muga said he is saddened that places like Marsabit don't have water.

"It's unfortunate that 84 per cent of our renewable water resources go to the ocean yet water is a God-given gift for us to be self-sustainable. The immediate solution is to have water pans while the long-term solution is to have dams," he said.

2:45 pm - Muga says the Water Ministry is not short of professionals or policy. "All I bring to the ministry if approved by this house is the ethos of the private sector of accountability and transparency as the people have asked for. I'm a wide consultative person," he said.

2:30 pm - Saboti MP Caleb Amisi challenges Mugaa to take up the responsibility of a CS saying he is being looked up to by Kenya's youth.

"Being a 32-year-old and, therefore, a millennial, you're the closest of the Cabinet Secretaries to the Gen Zs. If you fail, you'll have failed the aspirations of Gen Zs of ascending to power," Amisi said.

1:55 pm - On matters of corruption and cartels in the water sector, the Water CS Nominee says he has diligently served in previous positions and held transparency throughout.

"Corruption is a cancer in society and if I am approved, I will embrace integrity, honesty and accountability," he said.

Water CS nominee Eric Mugaa: I believe that corruption is like a cancer in our society, I am coming in on a clean slate, the law will have to take its course. pic.twitter.com/AJjxUdUCre

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) August 2, 2024

1:45 pm - On the issue of reduced funding as a result of the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024, Mugaa says that once confirmed, he would leverage on Public-Private Partnerships.

"We need to raise funds. We will package our projects in such a way that will attract public interest that will also ensure the partnerships don't exploit the end user," he said.

1:34 pm - The Committee on Appointments begins vetting the Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary nominee Eric Muriithi Mugaa.

1:17 pm - The Committee on Appointments concludes vetting of the Environment Cabinet Secretary Nominee Aden Duale.

1:14 pm - The Environment CS nominee Aden Duale says his net worth is Sh980 million. During his last vetting in 2022, his net worth was Sh851 million.

12:55 pm - Duale says the shamba system or grazing in forests by communities under the Community Forest Association is about management and coexistence. "We can not protect our forests if we leave the communities aside," he said.

Cabinet Secretary Nominee of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Aden Barre Duale takes the oath when he appeared before the Committee on Appointments on August 2, 2024. (Photo: National Assembly)

12:20 pm - On the matter of the recent deployment of KDF forces in the Kenyan streets to quell the violence during the anti-government protest raised by Kathiani MP Robert Mbui, Duale said on June 25, the office of the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court as an institution was under threat.

"If KDF did not come to assist other security agencies God forbid many MPs could have died, including our Speaker, and Parliament could have been burnt," he said.

"I did not deploy the KDF, the framers of the Constitution put Article 241 3(b) & 3(c). So KDF are in the streets, they are in Boni Forest fighting Al-Shabaab, they are in North Rift making sure that we deal with banditry, so for peace, public order, public safety, where the police are overwhelmed, Article 241 kicks in."

12:00 pm - On the matter of why President William Ruto moved him from the Defence Ministry to Environment in his revised cabinet list, Duale said the prerogative lies with the appointing authority who holds the powers. The issue was raised by Likoni MP Mishi Mboko.

"In the event this committee approves me, the President has the right to assign me to another ministry. That is his power. Maybe he might even take me back to defence. I am ready to serve in any capacity that the President deems right," he said.

11:46 am - On the issue members of the Kenya Defence Forces feared him during his tenure as the CS Defence raised by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Duale dismissed the claims.

"I don't think the rank and leadership of defence fear me. Maybe my style and I will take the same style to Environment. I had the same style in Parliament," he said.

Cabinet Secretary Nominee of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Aden Barre Duale when he appeared before the Committee on Appointments on August 2, 2024. (Photo: Handout)

11:29 am - If confirmed as the next Environment CS, Duale vows to revoke a number of title deeds on grabbed/encroached forest lands belonging to some individuals in government, including MPs in the first 30 days after being approved particularly on the Oloolua Forest.

Aden Duale, Environment CS nominee: At Oloolua, without fear of contradiction, in the first 30 days, working with the Lands Ministry, I will revoke grabbed land from big people, including those in Parliament.

I will bear the consequences. Mr. Speaker, some of your members might… pic.twitter.com/Q27P1aKbvv

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) August 2, 2024

11:10 am - On whether he is fit to head the Environment Ministry, Duale lists his academic and professional qualifications. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, a Bachelors Degree in Education, a Diploma in Conflict Management and project management among other qualifications. He is the immediate ex-Defence CS and said he was the first minister to host the US Secretary of Defence and UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

"As I leave the ministry, 150 anti-mine vehicles have been donated to the KDF. I secured $57 million for the expansion of an airstrip National Defence College is constructing the largest school in our region, the School of Strategic Studies, to the tune of Sh5 billion Also lists the war against terror," he said.

11:04 am - The Committee on Appointments begins vetting the Cabinet Secretary Nominee of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Aden Barre Duale.

10:35 am - The Committee on Appointments concludes the vetting of the Cabinet Secretary Nominee to serve in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr Andrew Muhia Karanja.

10:33 am  - National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula urges the media to be fair in their reporting of the vetting exercise and in particular on the matter regarding their wealth.

"Yesterday we had five candidates, we asked them many questions ending with this minor question about their net worth but the media picked that part and forgot everything else," he said.

9:53 am - Agriculture CS nominee Andrew Karanja says he will seek divine intervention in dealing with cartels in the Agriculture sector.

"One of my clear pillars, which are non-negotiable is issue to do with accountability, I will pray to God so that I do not vacate that principle. I will pray for divine intervention because I know it is not easy."

Agriculture CS nominee Andrew Karanja causes laughter in Parliament after saying that he will pray to God to not be compromised by cartels trying to make him a billionaire.

Kathiani MP Robert Mbui to Agriculture CS nominee Andrew Karanja: I have seen that you are worth Sh214… pic.twitter.com/ixkVu1zHMB

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) August 2, 2024

9:40 am - On the issue of climate change, Karanja says it is a definite threat to agriculture. "We need to emphasise the Kenya Kwanza agenda of planting trees because it is one of the measures we can use to mitigate the effects of climate change," he says.

9:38 am - The Agriculture CS nominee says his net worth is Sh214 million.

9: 00 am -  Responding to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula question on whether GMOs are safe for human consumption, Karanja urged caution when it came to the matter.

"Some yes, but some No. For example, I know that some of the products we are using like soya from those countries are good GMOs but for others especially where genetical engineering has been used, you need to be very careful," he said.

"GMO is a very topical issue, some of the interventions through GMOs can increase food production, we need to balance between the safety and what needs to be done. If approved, I will confront the (GMO) issue and do what is required according to the bio-safety Act."

8: 50 am - Karanja vows to crash cartels in the fertiliser industry through a multi-agency approach and promises to put farmers' interests first.

"I know dealing with cartels in the Ministry of Agriculture is a big issue. I am giving a notice to cartels. They will be out of business. One of the principles I hold very dear is integrity. I will deal with them," he said.

8:45 am - In response to Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah's question on Karanja's alleged relationship with the former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, Karanja says he has never met him nor been his PA.

"This one caught me by surprise. For the record Mr Speaker sir and honourable members, I have never met the former minister for Agriculture and I have never been a personal assistant," Karanja said.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Nominee Dr Andrew Muhia Karanja.

8:30 am - The first person to appear before the Committee on Appointments on Friday is the Cabinet Secretary Nominee to serve in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr Andrew Muhia Karanja.

The approval hearings are chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetangula who is presiding over the Sixth Session today.

Dr. Muhia Karanja holds a PhD in Development Economics and Policy from Wageningen University, Netherlands, a Certificate in Development oriented Research in Agriculture and a Master of Agricultural Economics from the University of Nairobi.