CS candidate review set for next week

A showdown looms in Parliament over the review of cabinet candidates ahead of the reorganization of the House Business Committee (HBC).

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangla has instructed the candidates to be published in the Official Gazette on Friday, October 7. This means the review will start next week.

“Once formed, the nominating committee will immediately begin the candidate consideration process to allow for a speedy conclusion of the screening process. This should take place on Friday, after which the nominating committee will should start an approval hearing,” the speaker said.

Wetang’ula further instructed parliament to submit a report on the screening of cabinet candidates by 27 October for debate and eventual approval or rejection of some or all names. did.

According to the timeline provided by the speaker, Congress has a November 3 deadline to approve the CS name.

And with Kenya Kwanzaa declaring a majority in the House of Commons, majority and minority leaders will have four members each to submit to the speaker’s office by next Tuesday on commission composition. It is

The names of the members of the nominations committee will also be presented to the House Business Committee, which will meet for the first time on Tuesday.

standard Ajimio Camp and Kenya Kwanza Camp have already established names for the members of the Divisional Committee.

Kenya Kwanza appointed Kihal MP Ndindi Nyoro as Chairperson of the Budget Allocation Committee, Didmus Barasa (Kimirili) as Chairperson of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee, Kimani Kuria (Moro) as Chairperson of the Finance Committee, Appointed Nelson Koech (Bergut) as Chairman of the Defense and Foreign Affairs Commission. Administrative committee.

Others include Julius Meli (Tinderet), Head of the Education Committee, Robert Pukose (Endebes), Chair of the Health Committee, and Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki, Chair of the Water Committee.

Some lawmakers are opposing some of President William Ruto’s cabinet candidates.

Root has announced 22 ministerial candidates he hopes will help implement the Kenyan Kwanzaa agenda.

The appointment committee held its first meeting, instructed parliamentary secretary Sela Kioko to publish the name in a national newspaper, and called on Kenyans to submit documents to parliament challenging the candidate’s suitability. Ask.

The review will take almost a month after members of the 12th Parliament changed the law from the first 14 days to the 28th for ministerial review dates. The Appointment Committee conducts a public review before declining to write a report.

The Committee is chaired by the Speaker and is composed of Majority and Minority Leaders and other Members.

The team examines candidates for Cabinet to see if they meet Chapter 6 of the Constitution on integrity.

The committee submits a report to Parliament for the members to adopt or reject. If hired, President Root formally appoints the individual as Chief Cabinet Secretary, and the elected legislator must formally resign to assume a new role in the government.

It is the table in the report that shows that MPs who may not be on the committee will not approve of individuals who lack integrity.

But Azimio has vowed to ensure rigorous scrutiny of candidates, with an emphasis on integrity.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Schifna, who is also ODM secretary general, said Azimo had raised integrity concerns about some cabinet candidates.

not suitable

“On that list there are names who are fit and competent for every office in government. I hope,” he said.

Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino said the president should not have named the individual in the case.

“It is a contradictory statement to ask our young people to behave well from the police, and for those who are appointed to high positions, we are expected to just let go. The position is very clear, you cannot hold state office if you file a lawsuit in court,” he said.

Former Malindi MP Aisha Jamwa, who has been named to the Public Service and Gender Proceedings, has pending lawsuits relating to murder and corruption.

She is facing murder charges in the murder of 48-year-old Ngumbao Jola after a disturbance broke out during the Ganda District by-election in Kilifi on October 15, 2019.

In the second charge, Jumwa is accused of embezzling 19 million shillings for the Malindi Constituency Development Fund. Along with her six others, she is charged with 13 crimes, including forgery and fraud, on suspicion of siphoning money intended for the construction of the sub-county’s education office block.

Another CS candidate in active litigation is former Mel Senator Misika Rinturi, who is slated to replace outgoing Agriculture CS Peter Muña.

Former Senator Meru, along with Atticon shareholder Emily Nkilote, have been accused of falsifying information, pretending to be false to gain credit, and of impersonation and abuse of power.

Finance Minister CS candidate Professor Njuguna Ndung’u faces questions about his tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.

In 2012, MPs alleged that Professor Ndungu was responsible for losses of more than 2 billion shillings following the cancellation of a banknote printing contract awarded to the De La Rue currency.

The former CBK governor faced the daunting task of dealing with the scandal surrounding the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel.

In June 2016, former Gatundu MP Moses Kuria was incited and imprisoned for six days in the Pangani Police Station jail alongside the infamous “Pangani Six.”

In January 2020, he was arrested again and taken to Kilimani Police Station to record statements related to alleged assault on a woman. Last April, Clear was arrested for ignoring Covid-19 rules and spent the night at the Carli police station.

Controversy also surrounds Energy CS candidate Davis Chirchir, who has served as President Root’s chief of staff.

Chirchir returns to the casebook he casually left behind in 2015 following allegations of corruption. He was informed by his EACC that he was investigating allegations that a company named Windward Trading Limited would be set up to receive 90 million shillings from the award of a contract between Kenya Power Company and a foreign company for the Kenya Pipeline. Corruption charges were cleared.

These issues may resurface during parliamentary review.

But candidates rely on Kenyan Kwanzaa rule in parliament to pass screening, then take the oath of office and embark on their new roles.

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