The National Assembly Cabinet Secretary vetting committee has rejected the nomination of Aisha Jumwa (CS Public Service), Peninah Malonza (CS Tourism) and Mithika Linturi (CS Agriculture).
Suna East MP Junet Mohammed tabled the Committee’s report before the House on October 25, 2022. The report stated that the minority rejected the appointment of Linturi and Jumwa over pending court cases.
Moreover, the committee unanimously rejected the nomination of Malonza as Tourism CS, saying she lacks the required experience and abilities to serve in the docket.
In addition, Linturi’s nomination was rejected because he failed to present a copy of an academic degree, he says he acquired from an Indian University before the House’s Committee on Appointments during vetting.
The Committee further raised concerns about the former Meru governor’s university of Nairobi degree citing that the institution once wanted to discontinue him over forgery allegations.
The report also states that Linturi failed to clearly explain rape and forgery allegations tabled against him instead going off topic and answering questions that were not even asked by the Committee.
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“The members found Linturi unsuitable to hold public office due to the gravity of the allegations and the court cases against him, the integrity questions, allegations and cases raise and the unsatisfactory responses he provided. The members therefore rejected his nomination,” reads the Committee’s report in part.
Nevertheless, the committee overlooked Aisha Jumwa’s nomination due to a pending court case in which she is accused of fatally shooting a man in 2019 during the Ganda Ward by-election.
“The members stated that they hold the strong view that the principle of presumption of innocence until one is proved guilty should never apply in situations of appointment to a high public office such as the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya,” reads the report.
“The members, therefore, found Jumwa unsuitable to hold public office due to gravity of the active criminal case against her, the integrity questions it raises, and the unsatisfactory responses provided. The members, therefore, reject her nomination to the Cabinet.”
Likewise, the committee rejected Malonza’s nomination saying she did not demonstrate knowledge of topical, administrative, and technical issues touching on the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage.
