Three Cabinet secretaries to appear before Natioonal Assembly on Tuesday

President Uhuru greets MPs after his address to the nation at Parliament (Photo: Boniface Okendo)

Three Cabinet secretaries will today appear before the National Assembly to answer questions from members.

In a departure from tradition since the promulgation of the new Constitution and in line with new rules introduced by the National Assembly, the three CSs, Charity Ngilu (Lands), Joseph ole Lenku (Interior and Co-ordination of national government) and Jacob Kaimenyi (Education) will take their place in a specially designated spot within the House to respond to the questions.

It may, however, be deja vu for Ngilu, as she has previously appeared before the House during her tenure as a minister in the Kibaki government.

The other two will find themselves in unfamiliar territory as MPs take turns to grill them on various issues that have been listed in today's order paper.

The CSs will appear from 10am.

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has filed a question seeking to know the steps being taken by Ngilu's ministry to safeguard custody of files and other documentation on land, and also ensure irregularly subdivided land reverts to its rightful owners.

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Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town) will be seeking to know the amount of land that has been earmarked for the development of Konza City and steps taken to resolve emerging controversies that have threatened to stall the project. Lenku will respond to two questions, one by Saboti MP David Wafula and another by Baringo County Woman Representative Grace Kiptui.

Wafula's question to Lenku reads: "Considering that, in several instances national resource distribution is based on existing administrative structures, could the CS inform the committee on the criteria applied by the Government to determine areas to be designated as sub-counties (formerly districts) and when the Government intends to declare each sub-county as covering only one constituency."

Kaimenyi could face questions over the looming teachers strike, the controversial laptops tender and construction of technical colleges in constituencies among others.

Technically, the CS will not appear as members of the National Assembly, but will be appearing before a newly established committee known as the Committee on General Oversight, comprising of all member of the House.

According to the new rules, the CS will not be required to respond to more than five questions during any particular sitting. The Leader of Majority shall also consult with the Speaker on the agenda of the committee.

Despite the new rules, there has been confusion on the appearance of the CSs before the House, with the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution threatening to move to court to challenge it.

Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi said decisions on which committee to form or who is to appear before which committee is a matter of rules and procedures of the House.

"The National Assembly is committed to upholding the values outlined in the Constitution and continues to welcome any input that may assist in that regard," said Muturi.

The National Assembly amended its Standing Orders to allow Cabinet Secretaries to appear before the House to respond to questions raised by members.