Public Service Cabinet Secretary nominee Geoffrey Ruku yesterday found himself in an awkward position after MPs accused him of supporting corruption following his move to formulate two laws curtailing Kenyans freedom.

The Bills in questions are the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Bill that sought to decriminalise certain aspects of public procurement, property disposal, contract tendering, fund management and expenditure and the Assembly and Demonstration Bill which sought to regulate public demonstrations and give provisions of how an assembly is conducted to safeguard public property and protect lives.

The Mbeere North MP who appeared before the Committee on Appointments chaired by Speaker Mosses Wetang’ula for vetting, was also taken to task over whether he has the expertise in the said position and whether he has travelled to various areas in the country to know the challenges facing Kenyans.

On her part, Gender, Culture, The Arts and Heritage CS nominee Hanna Wendot Cheptumo said she will push for the establishment of gender desks in hospitals as those set up in police stations are not effective due to stigma.

While appearing before the same committee, she explained that the desks ought to be moved from the police stations to hospitals so that victims gets all-rounded support including reporting, treatment, psycho-social and the legal support.

Cheptumo whose net worth stands at Sh420 million also said she will be pushing for the inclusion of courses touching on Gender Based Violence (GBV) in school’s curriculum to ensure that young boys and girls are trained on how to report such cases when they arise.

Earlier Ruku was forced to shed light on how he will deal with the ghost workers menace in the public service as well as explain his motive towards his push for the legalisation of Miraa and Muguka after he was accused of vouching for his personal interests when he served in the delegated legislation committee. He was also asked to shed light on a petition that had been forwarded to the committee where he is accused of defaulting on paying rent.

“In June 2023, you came up with a proposed amendment Bill to decriminalise anti-corruption, do you still support this Bill?’ Minority Whip and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed sought to know.

Avoiding losses

Pokot South MP David Pkosing claimed Ruku’s fight against certain freedoms has made him look like he has been promoting corruption while on the position he has been nominated for, he sought to know whether he knows Kenyan very well.

However, Ruku whose net worth stands at Sh377 million, defended himself saying that his intention on the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Bill was to ensure that all is not lost by ensuring that what has been taken away by corrupt people is returned to the country as most of the times it takes more than ten years for the courts to deal with corruption cases.

“There are other methods to ensure that money is not lost. I am not in any way trying to promote corruption,” he argued, adding that his proposed amendments addressed loss of more money through investigations and prosecution, and the time it takes.

On the assembly and demonstration bill, he said he was trying to protect the rights of the persons who do not participate in picketing and demonstration as they have a right to enjoy the good state of the environment.

Gender, Culture, The Arts and Heritage CS nominee Cheptumo said she will be engaging MPs, local leaders and religious leaders to come up with solutions and polices on how be able to end the GBV cases.

“I see the solutions coming from the locals. Include GBV issues in the education system. This is where children can learn when to report and protect themselves,” she said.

On the two-thirds gender rule, she was of the opinion the constitution must be implemented and appealed to political parties to ensure they play their part. On the recent directive by the education ministry to ban non-teachers from engaging learners, she said they can be engaged in a proper way.

“I believe that people are gifted differently, not all teachers can write plays, all we need to do is to have proper engagement, it is for the school to do proper engagement,” she said of the still-contentious Butere Girls issue.

Cheptumo was responding to questions on whether she has the right qualifications for her new role owing to the fact that she has worked only for the State Department for Cooperatives.