Parliament to vet officials in high state offices, CSs ahead of special sitting next week

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos during vetting by the Committee on Appointments at the Mini Chambers, County Hall, Nairobi, August 1. [Elvis Ogina ,Standard]

Parliament will from Today Thursday commence the vetting of President William Ruto’s nominees to various commissions and Cabinet positions in an exercise that will culminate in a special sitting of the National assembly next week.

The National Assembly’s Labour committee will today question eight of the President’s appointees who are poised to join the public service commission (PSC) should they get the nod.

The appointees include former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner Boya Molu and Mary Wanjira Kimonye, as the PSC Vice chairperson.She served during the former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime as a Principal Secretary for the State Department of Public Service.

Francis Otieno Owino and Mwanamaka Amani Mabruki who previously served as Principal Secretaries for youth affairs and devolution respectively in the Uhuru government will also appear before the House team.

The current CEO of National Council for People living with Disabilities (PWDs) Harun Maalim Hassan and Irene Cherotich Asienga, who is a former commissioner at the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) during the Kenyatta administration are also set to face MPs for grilling.

Others include Former National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) director-general Francis Meja and Joan Andisi Machayo. Andisi was a board member of the National Employment Authority (NEA) as an alternate director under the previous regime.

The vetting will pave way for a similar session next week, whee CS nominees will know their fate following the gazettement of a special sitting by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula slated for Thursday.

Cabinet nominees William Kabogo who is a former Kiambu County Governor, Mutahi Kagwe who previously served as a Health CS under the Uhuru government and Lee Kinyanjui who is a former Nakuru Governor will appear before the Speaker Wetangula- led Committee on Appointments on January 14 for vetting. Two two days later, a report on their suitability for office will be debated by the House.

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Kagwe has been nominated to the Agriculture docket, Kinyanjui to the trade docket and Kabogo to the ICT and communications docket.

“Now therefore, it is hereby notified to all members of the National Assembly and the general public that Thursday, January 16, 2025 has been appointed as a day for special sittings of the National Assembly,” said Wetangula.

“The special sittings will be held in the National Assembly Chamber commencing at 10 am and 2.30 pm for the morning and afternoon sittings, respectively” he added.

According to a schedule released by Parliament, CS nominee Kagwe will appear before the appointments committee on Tuesday, at noon, Former Kiambu Governor Kabogo at 3 pm will take the stand at 3pm, and Former Nakuru Governor Kinyanjui at 5pm.

During the special sitting, the MPs will also consider reports from other committees on the nomination of other persons to State offices such as high commissioners, diplomatic representatives and ambassadors.

At the same time, the house will also approve the nominees to fill the vacant positions in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) following the exit of the Lyn Mengich-led team.

This is after President Ruto appointed Sammy Chepkwony, a human resources expert as its Chairperson and he will be vetted by the National Assembly Labour Committee chaired Runyejes MP Eric Muchangi. Others whowere nominated to SRC include Jane Gatakaa , Maj. Gen. Martin Kizito, Mohamed Abdi, Gilda Odera, Apollo Omondi and Leonid Ashindu.