Vetting of Ruto's Cabinet nominees tops agenda as parliament reconvenes

The National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula disclosed that all 11 of President Ruto's picks will undergo a suitability test.

After being closed for renovation for close to a month since June 28 this year, the National Assembly is set to bounce back with activities as the legislators resume sittings on Tuesday from a short recess.

As they plan to pick up from where they left nearly a month ago, the MPs who have kept a low profile since the occupation of Parliament by protesters will be coming to a full in-tray.

The MPs will be on the hot seat yet again, as the Committee on Appointments starts the process of vetting the first eleven cabinet nominees by President William Ruto.

Speaker Moses Wetang'ula stated, "We are waiting for the communication from the Executive, and then we will publish the names of nominees and days."

Although six out of the 11 nominees have been nominated from among the dissolved Cabinet, the Speaker, a long-standing lawyer, maintains that they are still eligible to occupy public office even after dismissal by the appointing authority.

Wetang'ula explained, "They did not contravene Article 6 of the Constitution." Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi added, "We will be vetting all of them, and we will be firm with them."

This comes as the Parliamentary Service Commission revealed that the destruction of Parliament ran into close to 100 million shillings. Wetang'ula noted, "94 million shillings, but the insurer has taken care of the damages. We are currently fixing TVs, furniture destroyed."

The National Assembly's in-tray will also involve the consideration of the memorandum from President William Ruto rejecting the Finance Bill 2024, and the members will yet again take a vote on the contentious bill that opened the nationwide protests.

The House will also be running against time to come up with the names of a new IEBC selection panel, which must be gazetted by Tuesday next week, in line with strict constitutional timelines, to kick-start the process of reconstituting the electoral body.

Wetang'ula said all groups mandated to second names to the panel are expected to do so by Friday this week. They include the Parliamentary Service Commission, Law Society of Kenya, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, Political Parties Liaison Committee, and Inter-Religious Council.