MPs to vet Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador nominees next Thursday

Plenary seating in session during the reopening of the 13th Parliament after the December holidays break at the Parliament buildings, Nairobi . February 13th,2024 [Elvis Ogina ,Standard]

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called a special sitting on Thursday, January 16 to deliberate on the vetting of Cabinet Secretaries, High Commissioners, and ambassador nominees.  

In a notice dated January 8, Wetang’ula indicated that the session follows a request by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah. 

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

The sittings will be held in the Parliament chambers in the morning and afternoon.  

Key discussions will include the vetting of cabinet secretary nominees Mutahi Kagwe, Lee Kinyanjui, and William Kabogo, who were nominated in December, to lead the Agriculture, Trade, and ICT ministries, respectively.  

The Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations will also present its report on the vetting of high commissioners, ambassadors, permanent representatives, and consuls-general.  

Additionally, MPs will debate the report by the Departmental Committee on Labour regarding the nomination of Mary Kimonye as Vice Chairperson and seven other members. The committee is also set to table its report on the nomination of Sammy Chepkwony as Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).  

Other agenda items include messages from the Executive or the Senate and priority bills, such as the mediated version of the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (Senate Bill No. 19 of 2024), which awaits conclusion of the mediation process.  

Additional motions listed for consideration are the Startup Bill (Senate Bill No. 14 of 2022) and the Persons with Disabilities Bill (Senate Bill No. 7 of 2023).

The lawmakers are set to cut short their long recess which was supposed to end in February 2025.

“As notified on Thursday’s Order Paper, the House is scheduled to proceed for its long recess from December 6 to February 10, in accordance with the approved calendar of the Third Session."