Mudavadi : I'm no longer the ANC party leader

Prime Cabinet Secretary nominee Musalia Mudavadi has said he is no longer the Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader.

Mudavadi made the announcement on Monday while appearing before the 15-member Committee on Appointments vetting CS nominees at the National Assembly.

Speaker Moses Wetangula, who is the committee chair, asked Mudavadi if he has held any position in a political party, to which he said yes.

"The most recent one was being leader of the Amani National Congress," Mudavadi told the House.

When asked if he is still the leader, the CS nominee said: "No, Mr Chairman."

Mudavadi was also grilled on the infamous Goldenberg scandal of the1990s that led to a loss of about 10 percent of the country's GDP. 

"This committee must know Golden Scandal was a scheme and even the inquiry report found me not involved. The matter of Golden Scandal was dealt with by courts and those who were found guilty were dealt with and I was not one of them," he said.

Earlier in the session, Speaker Wetangula ended ongoing debate on the legalities of the Prime CS position by stating that Mudavadi's nomination is legal.

Wetangula ruled that the cabinet slot was within the law and hence the committee shall proceed and vet Mudavadi in accordance to the house vetting committee standing orders.

Mudavadi was the first to appear before the committee at 9.00 am.

The exercise runs through  to Saturday, October 22, with the exception of Thursday, October 20, when the country will observe Mashujaa Day.

Justin Muturi, the Attorney General nominee, was scheduled to appear at 10.30 am, while Defence CS nominee Aden Duale was expected at 11.30 am.

Dr Alfred Mutua who has been nominated to the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs docket was set to face the committee at 2.30 pm, while her Water, Sanitation and Irrigation counterpart Alice Wahome would close the day's exercise after her vetting which is slated at 3.30 pm.