Senate has no role in vetting Boinett, claims Kuria

The Senate has no role in vetting Inspector-General of Police nominee Joseph Boinett, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has claimed.

In a move likely to cause another round of wrangles between the National Assembly and the Senate, Kuria said the newly enacted security law was clear on the appointment of the IG.

“The President shall, within fourteen days after a vacancy occurs in the office of the Inspector-General, nominate a person for appointment as an Inspector-General and submit the name of the nominee to the National Assembly,” said the MP quoting from the law that was passed last year.

Kuria said the National Assembly was ready to approve the appointment saying it was important that the matter be dispensed with urgently.

“We do not want to delay the vetting of the new IG by involving the Senate because senators have no role in the exercise. This is purely a matter for the National Assembly,” the legislator told journalists in Nakuru town Sunday.

However, Article 245(2) of the Constitution stipulates that: The Inspector-General is appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament. The Constitution defines Parliament as consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate.

It also declares that if any other law is inconsistent with the Constitution, the supreme law shall prevail and the other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated Mr Boinett late last year after former IG David Kimaiyo resigned following increased incidents of insecurity.