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Nandi senator Samson Cherargei now says nominated Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Public Service and Gender, Aisha Jumwa and her trade counterpart Moses Kuria will be the most outstanding CSs if approved by Members of Parliament (MPs).

His sentiments follow after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna poked holes into President William Ruto’s nominated CSs.

Speaking to a local tv station on Thursday, October 6, 2022, the outspoken legislator affirmed that the two leaders had all it took to deliver outstanding performance in their dockets if approved.

“Aisha Jumwa and Moses Kuria were cleared by agencies like DCI, KRA and EACC before their nomination and I predict that the docket the two hold will be the best performing,” Cherargei stated.

“Aisha Jumwa is competent enough; if Senator Sifuna has a problem, he should bring it before the appointment committee. In my culture, it is embarrassing to fight a woman and Senator Sifuna should be called out,” the senator added.

While defending the two leaders, the sharp tongue lawmaker highlighted that the duo’s integrity should not be questioned if the parliament approves them.

Cherargei, an ardent supporter of President Ruto further defended Ruto’s choice of CS nominees exuding confidence that they will deliver results in their respective dockets.

Sifuna criticizes Ruto’s CS nominees

Sifuna had earlier claimed that President Ruto deliberately nominated incompetent individuals to his cabinet so as to run the ministries indirectly.

Speaking at a morning TV show, Sifuna stated that Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition has good people, but the Head of State still settled on individuals with questionable character.

“There are good people in Kenya Kwanza but just by the names he has proposed, it is clear William Ruto wants to run all the ministries because we know the competencies of the people he nominated,” he said.

The lawmaker further took a swipe at the CS Public Service nominee Aisha Jumwa, saying that she is incompetent.

“There are people in Kenya Kwanza like Kithure Kindiki who are competent for any government position but Aisha Jumwa is a big joke. She is not competent or suitable for any position,” he added.

Aisha Jumwa’s appointment to cabinet raises concern

The firebrand Coast politician’s appointment raised concern since she is facing graft and murder charges in court.

Jumwa was implicated in a Ksh19 million fraud case where she was accused of taking part in unlawful transactions in the Malindi National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

She was charged alongside other Malindi CDF officials who have since denied the offence.

According to the court documents, the offence is said to have been committed between May 14 and October 12, 2018, in Malindi.

She was since charged with conflict of interest, acquisition of proceeds of crime and money laundering.

The former lawmaker was also facing murder charges alongside her former bodyguard.

Jumwa was out on bail following her arrest in October 2019 after a man was shot in the shoulder and killed after she stormed a meeting organized by Reuben Katana, an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate during Ganda’s ward by-election.

During the chaos, several other people including police officers were injured.

Jumwa and her bodyguard were arrested and arraigned in court before being released on Ksh500,000 cash bail each.