The National Assembly is set to commence a comprehensive vetting programme for the 20 Cabinet Secretary (CS) nominees selected by President William Ruto. The process, which begins on Thursday, August 1 and concludes on Sunday, August 4, will be led by the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments. Speaker Moses Wetangula will chair the committee, with Gladys Boss serving as deputy chair.
The vetting exercise will see the nominees face rigorous questioning by Members of Parliament (MPs) to assess their suitability for office. The Committee on Appointments is composed of various notable members, including Kimani Ichung’wah, David Gikaria, Ferdinand Wanyonyi, Mary Emaase, Rahim Dawood, Junet Mohammed, Caleb Amisi, Stephen Mule, Nelson Koech, Abdi Shurie, Naisula Lesuuda, David Pkosing, Mishi Mboko, Owen Baya, Robert Mbui, Rahab Mukami, Dido Raso, and George Murugara. Opiyo Wandayi, who was initially a member, will not participate due to his nomination to the Energy docket.
Each day, five nominees will be vetted, with sessions starting at 8:00 am and conducted at two-hour intervals. The schedule for the vetting is as follows:
– Thursday, August 1:
– 8:00 am: Kithure Kindiki (Interior)
– Dr. Deborah Barasa (Health)
– Alice Wahome (Lands)
– Julius Ogamba (Education)
– Soipan Tuya (Defence)
– Friday, August 2:
– Andrew Karanja (Agriculture)
– Aden Duale (Environment)
– Eric Muuga (Water)
– Davis Chirchir (Transport)
– Margaret Ndung’u (ICT)
– Saturday, August 3:
– John Mbadi (Treasury)
– Salim Mvurya (Trade)
– Rebecca Miano (Tourism)
– Opiyo Wandayi (Energy)
– Kipchumba Murkomen (Roads)
– Sunday, August 4:
– Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy)
– Alfred Mutua (Labour)
– Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs)
– Justin Muturi (Public Service)
– Stella Lang’at (Gender)
However, President Ruto’s effort to establish his new cabinet faces potential hurdles. Several petitions have been filed in court challenging the suitability of some nominees. The Executive Director of the Commission for Human Rights and Justice has petitioned to bar ODM nominees Ali Hassan Joho, Opiyo Wandayi, John Mbadi, and Wycliffe Oparanya from holding office. The petitioner argues that their involvement could undermine the opposition’s oversight role and has requested the vetting of these four nominees to be halted.
The outcome of the vetting process and the court petitions will be crucial in determining the final composition of President Ruto’s cabinet.
