Parliament Speaker Wetangula refers Ruto's nominees to committees for vetting

President William Ruto has forwarded the names of nominees for various state positions to the National Assembly for vetting.

This follows fresh nominations made by the President just two days earlier, which included ministerial positions, state corporations and appointments to Kenya’s foreign missions abroad.

In a statement on Saturday, House Speaker Moses Wetangula announced that the names of the nominees for Cabinet Secretary positions had been referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments for vetting.

Among the nominees are former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo (ICT), Mutahi Kagwe (Agriculture) and former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui (Investment and Trade).

Wetangula also noted  that the names of nominees for various diplomatic roles have been passed on to the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence & Foreign Relations.

The nominees include Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u (High Commissioner to Accra), Dr. Andrew Karanja (Ambassador to Brazil), Ababu Namwamba (Permanent Representative to the UNEP office in Nairobi) and Noor Gabow (Consul-General to Port-au-Prince).

In addition, the Speaker referred the names of nominees for the positions of Vice-Chairperson and Members of the Public Service Commission to the Departmental Committee on Labour for evaluation.

The nominees are Mary Wanjira Kimonye (Vice-Chairperson) and members Harun Maalim Hassan, Mwanamaka Amani Mabruki, Francis Meja, Dr. Irene Cherotich Asienga, Boya Molu, Joan Andisi Machayo and Dr. Francis Otieno Owino.

"The Committees are required to commence the necessary vetting processes as contemplated under the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, CAP 7F and Standing Order 45 (Committal of public appointments to Committees) and upon conclusion of the approval hearings, submit respective reports by close of business on 15th January 2025," said Wetangula.

Wetangula also announced that the three committees are permitted to hold sittings during the parliament's recess in order to expedite the vetting process.

"At an appropriate time, I will notify all Honourable Members of the date and time of convening of Special Sittings of the House for purposes of considering the reports of the respective Committees on the vetting exercise," said Wetangula.

"The Clerk is hereby directed to transmit this Notification to all Members of the National Assembly and facilitate the respective Committees to expeditiously undertake the necessary approval hearings."