Cabinet secretaries vetting just kicked off today under tight security guidelines in the County Town Hall. The scrutiny of CS nominees will lapse on Sunday, as parliamentarians began the process today following its dissolution by the President on July 11 last month.
The National Assembly Speaker, Hon. Moses Wetangula, confirmed on the 23rd of last month that the president had forwarded the names of the appointees for consideration by the Parliament. This is after weeks of waiting for Ruto to let the nation know who’ll be leading the vacant dockets to steer the struggling economy.
“Hon Members, I wish to convey to the House that I have received a message from His Excellency the President, notifying the nomination of various persons for appointing to the Offices of Cabinet Secretaries,” Wetangula said.
The speaker then provided the list and resumes of the CS nominees to the parliamentary committees tasked with the responsibility of screening the appointees in anticipation of their vetting process, which began today.
“In view of the foregoing and pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act of 2011 as read together with Standing Order 42 (30), I hereby refer the message from the President, together with the curriculum vitae of the nominees, to the committee on the appointments for vetting,” he added.
Additionally, the US Embassy in Kenya has implored the national assembly to exercise integrity throughout the vetting process. In a statement on their X handle, moments before the commencement of the scrutiny of the nominees, the embassy stressed the need to uphold Chapter Six of the Constitution.
“As Kenyans look ahead to the vetting of Cabinet nominees beginning Thursday, we recognise the importance of integrity in the public service and the National Assembly’s vital role in upholding Chapter Six of Kenya’s Constitution,” the embassy said on X.
Kenyans have urged their Members of Parliament to exercise their conferred role as lawmakers to engage the nominees through thorough eligibility scrutiny and only approve those with no history of constitution violations. Despite the reappointment of some previously dismissed individuals, a couple of youth have been calling their disapproval by the house.
President Ruto nominated Dorcas Oduor for the position of Attorney General on Tuesday. She’s poised to become the first female to occupy the national legal advisory office since independence, should the National Assembly approve her.
Meanwhile, together with Doracs Oduor, the president nominated Beatrice Askul for the position of Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs and Regional Development. Both Dorcas Oduor and Beatrice Askul are set to replace Justin Muturi and Peninah Malonza, respectively, should they get the green light to occupy the offices.
