Inspector General of Police nominee Engineer Japhet Koome appointed by President William Ruto will be vetted by both the Senate and National Assembly before assuming his position.
Koome will undergo vetting jointly done by the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs of the National Assembly.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi in a communication to Senators said that the Chairpersons of the two committees will co-chair joint sittings and the secretariat will comprise officers from the two houses with quorums being as stipulated by the standing orders.
"Unless otherwise provided in any law, a committee shall consider a nomination and table its report in the relevant house for debate and decision made within fourteen days from the date of the notification," said Kingi.
The Speaker told Senators that if after the expiry of the period of consideration parliament will neither have approved or rejected the nomination of the candidate, he shall be deemed to have been approved.
Kingi told members that the period of the matter now before Parliament starts running upon the Speaker of the National Assembly committing the name to the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs.
The Speaker said that upon receipt of a notification of nomination for appointment to a public office required to be approved by the Senate under the constitution or any of the legislation, the nomination shall stand committed to the relevant Standing Committee for consideration.
"The resume of the nominee stands committed to the standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations of the Senate for vetting jointly with the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs of the National Assembly," said Kingi.
The Senate Speaker said that the vetting will be done in accordance with the provisions of the National Police Service act, Public appointment act and the Standing orders of the Houses of Parliament.
Koome was nominated by President Ruto to serve as the Inspector General of Police in exercise of powers conferred upon him by the constitution and it is now upon parliament to approve or reject his appointment and inform the President accordingly.
The President appointed Koome to take over from Hillary Mutyambai who requested to resign from his position on medical grounds with Parliament supposed to look at the suitability of Koome for the position.
The Speaker of the National Assembly will notify the President of the decision of Parliament over Koome 's appointment as Inspector General of Police.
enyarangi@standardmedia.co.ke
