Kenyans Send 1300 Submissions on Suitability of Ruto’s Cabinet Nominees

The National Assembly Committee on Appointments has received submissions from Kenyans on the vetting and approval for appointment of nominated Cabinet Secretaries. 

According to a statement from speaker Moses Wetangula, the committee on August 1 morning, received over 1300 submissions. 

One Hundred and Eighty-Seven (187) of these submissions are in the form of the affidavits contemplated under section 6(9) of the Act.

The remaining submissions either generally oppose the appointment of one or more nominees, are repetitive, support the nominees, or are unrelated to the process.

Additionally, Wetangula, the chairman of the committee, has said that there are Kenyans who have submitted applications for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries in place of some of the nominees.

“I want to assure the Kenyan public that the Committee on Appointments shall thoroughly scrutinize each submission made with regard to the approval hearings.

“Where the submissions received are not in the form of affidavits as required by the Act, the Committee shall, as far as practicable, include the concerns raised in the submissions in the questions that it will pose to the nominees. It is only through this that the Committee may conclusively determine the suitability of the nominees for appointment,” stated Wetangula.

Also Read: Parliament Announces Vetting Dates for All CS Nominees

Wetangula Gives Kenyans Deadline for Sending in Comments

The committee has reminded Kenyans that the submission deadline of the written memoranda was July 31, for the first batch of 10 nominees. 

In addition, the submission deadline for the second batch of nominees is August 1, 2014. 

Meanwhile, there are an additional two nominees (Attorney general and the EAC CS) who are being referred for consideration by the Committee. The statement has indicated the advertisements inviting submission of memoranda have been published in the dailies on 1st August 2024.

“The deadline for this submission is Thursday, 8th August 2024, and the Committee shall resume its hearings for the two nominees on Friday, 9th August 2024,” added the statement. 

The committee will consider the candidate’s academic credentials, professional training and experience, personal integrity and background of each nominee.

Also, it shall consider the suitability of each nominee for the appointment proposed, having regard to whether the nominee’s abilities, experience, and qualities meet the needs of the body to which nomination is being made.

Also Read: Names of MPs Who Will Vet Ruto’s New Cabinet Secretary Nominees

Re Nominated CSs and What Next after Vetting 

Wetangula also noted that the committee will take into account any reasons for the dismissal, if any, in considering whether to recommend the reappointment of nominees who had earlier been fired.  

“The determination of the question of whether such a nominee is suitable for re-appointment rests solely with the National Assembly,

“Article 132 of the Constitution confers upon the President the power to nominate and with the approval of the National Assembly, appoint Cabinet Secretaries in accordance with Article 152 of the Constitution,” the statement added. 

After the conclusion of the approval hearings, the Committee shall table its report in the House with recommendations either approving or rejecting the nominees for appointment. 

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