MPs Wamuchomba, Mbui reveal CS nominees who performed 'exemplary well' during vetting

Kathiani MP Robert Mbui (L) says Health CS nominee Susan Nakhumicha impressed him during the vetting exercise. Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba (R), on her part, said it was Trade CS nominee Moses Kuria. [File, Standard]

Two Members of Parliament, Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri) and Robert Mbui (Kathiani) have revealed the Cabinet Secretary nominees that they believe performed well during the vetting last week.

The vetting of all the 24 Cabinet nominees took place between Monday, October 17 and Saturday, October 22.

It was conducted by the Committee on Appointments made up of 21 members, including Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula.

According to Kathiani MP Robert Mbui, who is a member of the Committee on Appointments, the CS nominee who performed exemplary well during the interviews was Susan Nakhumicha, who is destined for the Health docket.

Mbui said Nakhumicha was a perfect fit for the Health docket due to her experience and technical understanding of the needs and requirements of the crucial ministry.

"She sounded convincing. I felt she has been in the [health] industry for a while in different capacities," Mbui told Citizen Television on Tuesday night, October 25.

"She was very clear in her mind on how she will progress the [Health] ministry and deal with the cartels. She is one nominee who seems to be in the right place. That's why during the vetting no one had many questions for her," added the Kathiani lawmaker.

On her part, Gathoni Wamuchomba, the MP for Githunguri Constituency, said Trade Cabinet Secretary nominee Moses Kuria impressed her during the vetting exercise.

Unlike Mbui, Wamuchomba was not a member of the Committee on Appointments.

According to Wamuchomba, who watched the vetting on television, Kuria understands the plan and strategy that would improve the Trade sector in Kenya.

"Kuria presented himself as someone who knows his docket well. Having practiced in banking and international community, he sounded like he knew what he was doing," Wamuchomba, also a panelist on Citizen Television, said on Tuesday.

"Some of Kuria's proposals on how to make Nairobi a financial centre that would attract investors impressed me. As a result, I felt he was the best candidate for the docket," she said.

What did Nakhumicha, Kuria say during vetting?

During the vetting conducted by the Committee on Appointments, Health CS nominee Susan Nakhumicha pledged to fight corruption at Afya House.

"I look like I'm too weak to handle the cartels, but I would like to assure you that the cartels at Afya House are people I have already worked with, but just on a smaller scale. I'm sure that we will be able to break the cartels," she said on Wednesday, October 19.

Nakhumicha further said she hopes to bank on her over 20 years of cumulative experience in health management to lead the ministry.

She'd earlier, in an interview with The Standard, said that her experience transcends pharmaceutical and supply chain management.

Moses Kuria, the Trade CS nominee, on his part, said during the parliamentary vetting that he'll forge new business partnerships with global technology companies.

"If I'm approved by the committee, I'll work around the clock to bring in global technology companies within the Konza Technopolis. I'll also set up two new special economic zones, including the Railway City Development Authority in Nairobi," he said on Tuesday, October 18.

The former Gatundu South MP further said that he'll work with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to develop a system that allows Kenyans and corporate entities to pay taxes in a voluntary arrangement.

"We will work with KRA to increase tax revenue, but we will not weaponise it. We will create an environment that makes it easy for business people to pay taxes through an efficient tax system," he said.

The CS nominee also pledged to protect local manufacturers against counterfeit products.

"We will use all efforts possible to deal with substandard goods," he said.

On Wednesday, October 26, both Kuria and Nakhumicha were among the 24 Cabinet nominees approved by the National Assembly.

The approved nominees are now awaiting swearing-in.