Blow for NG-CDF as Parliament rejects board nominees

Parliament rejects NG-CDF board nominees. [Courtesy]

A special motion brought to consider nominees for the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) board was rejected by MPs.

This means the NG-CDF board will have to wait longer before substantive members can be appointed after the National Assembly rejected four names vetted earlier this month.

The National Assembly Committee on NG-CDF, chaired by Eldama Ravine MP Musa Sirma, vetted four nominees for the positions of board members, namely Komora Yvonne Nsunsu, Manyanga Yvonne Boyani, Mutua Fidelis Kiketi and Morris Putita Kaaka.

The committee subsequently presented their names in the House for appointment.

But there was discontent among some of the members, with some rejecting the nominees.

Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo pushed for the approval of the four, saying they met all the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution.

“I want to be on record that I support the approval of this board as it has been proposed by the committee. The elements of approval include National Government Cap 414, and all four members have met that requirement. They have met the Public Parliamentary Approval Act requirement,” Ngogoyo said.

He made particular reference to nominee Morris Putita, saying the nominee served as the Chief Officer in the first Kajiado County Government.

“There is also a lady from Garsen. One lady who is a graduate and has never had the opportunity to work in any other institution has got the chance to serve on this NG-CDF board. We have a lady from Nyamira. Why do you want to deny her an opportunity to serve?” posed Ngogoyo.

But Leader of the Majority party, Kimani Ichung’wah, rose on a point of order to say Ngogoyo was anticipating a decision of the House.

He rejected the list, saying the House has a constitutional mandate to oversee the work of the Executive.

“In fact, when I listened to Ngogoyo, I was tempted to even change my mind until he disclosed that there are people in the list who have never worked anywhere before,” Ichung’wah said.

Leader of the Minority in the House, Junet Mohamed, also opposed the motion, saying some nominees were qualified but did not make the whole list okay.

He said the board will manage Sh65 billion on behalf of Kenyans and the most competent people must be incorporated.

“This House is not a conveyor belt. We have to scrutinise whatever we are passing in this House and don’t come here with the mindset that whatever is presented in the plenary must pass. No, we also have a constitutional mandate to reject it if we feel so,” Junet said.

After a series of contributions for and against the nominees, the House rejected the four names.