Inspector General of Police nominee Japhet Koome will be vetted by the Senate and National Assembly.
During the November 8 vetting, Koome will be interviewed jointly 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.
He was nominated by President William Ruto to serve as the Inspector General of Police and it is now upon Parliament to approve or reject his appointment.
If approved by Parliament, Koome will take over from former IG Hillary Mutyambai who requested to resign from his position on medical grounds.
Once the vetting is complete, the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula will notify the President of the decision of Parliament over Koome's appointment as IG.
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 members from the two Houses with quorum 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 14 days from the date of the notification," said Mr Kingi.
The Senate 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 National Assembly Speaker committing the name to the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs.
The Speaker said that upon receipt of 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.
He noted 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 Parliament.
Baringo Senator William Cheptumo who is the Chairperson of the Senate National Security, Defense and Foreign Relations Committee said that both committees are ready to conduct the exercise that will determine who becomes the IG.
Mr Cheptumo thanked the President for allowing the IG to control the police budget which he said will allow roll out of operational duties unhindered by any office unlike in the previous regime where the budget vote was in the Ministry of Interior.
"We are going to conduct the exercise in a professional manner in order to ensure that Kenyans have the best Inspector General of Police who will perform his duties as per the Constitution," he said.
enyarangi@standardmedia.co.ke
