How night talks saved nominees from rejection

Intense lobbying by the Kenya Kwanza leadership and a section of Azimio-One Kenya colleagues rescued the careers of three individuals nominated to the Cabinet but who had been rejected by the Committee on Appointments.

A source close to the Tuesday evening events said Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah lobbied his colleagues to rally behind nominees Mithika Linturi, Penina Malonza and Aisha Jumwa, who were on the verge of being rejected by the House.

The committee had earlier unanimously rejected Malonza.

Wiper-allied MPs and some counterparts from the Coast region also joined forces to rescue Malonza and lobbied their colleagues to vote in her favour and ensure she joins President William Ruto’s first Cabinet.

Sources said the nominees, including for the Attorney-General seat and Secretary to the Cabinet, will be sworn-in today at State House, Nairobi.

Justin Muturi was approved to succeed Kihara Kariuki as AG while Mercy Wanjau will be Secretary to the Cabinet, taking over from the long-serving Joseph Kinyua.

It was during the meeting that the legislators agreed that Kitui Woman Rep Irene Kasalu would in the morning propose an amendment to the committee report that had rejected Malonza as CS nominee for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage.

And when the matter came to the floor of the House yesterday morning, MPs approved all the 24 individuals by acclamation, paving the way for their swearing in.

Ruto is also set to meet MPs from his Kenya Kwanza Alliance to thank them for their contribution in the House so far before it proceeds on recess.

The committee chaired by House Speaker Moses Wetang’ula had in its report approved all the nominees except Malonza.

Ichung’wah then asked MPs to adopt the report when he replied on the motion to approve the nominees that signalled the end of debate.

“The committee expressed itself on Malonza but the ultimate decision lies with this House. Approve them so that the President can appoint them and have them sworn-in to start the work they were nominated for,” Ichung’wah said as he rallied the MPs to adopt the report.

While moving her amendment, Kasalu said Malonza was qualified to serve in the Cabinet and wondered why the committee found her unsuitable. “She is a woman of integrity as she has not been charged in any court of law.”

After the motion was seconded, the Speaker asked the House to vote and MPs approved her nomination by acclamation.

Kenya Gazette

The move set the stage for the nominees to take oath of office after which they will start executing their mandate.

In the last one month, President Ruto has been holding Cabinet meetings with CSs from the previous administration. Their tenure will effectively end when the new team is sworn in.

As a rule, the Cabinet meets on Thursdays. The last two Cabinet meetings have made far-reaching decisions, including allowing the importation and growing of Genetically Modified maize and other food crops in the race to combat hunger in the face of drought in at least 23 counties.

With Parliament having cleared the hurdle for the nominees, the President published their names in the Kenya Gazette last night, the penultimate stage before they are sworn in.

Those who were vetted for the CS positions but have been serving as MPs will be required to resign before they are gazetted as Cabinet Secretaries. Already, some, including Aden Duale and Kipchumba Murkomen, tendered their resignation yesterday.

The electoral commission will later hold by-elections in the affected areas to fill the seats left vacant by the legislators.

On September 27, President Ruto nominated 24 individuals to his Cabinet after he was declared winner of the August 9 presidential election. On October 6, he formally transmitted the nominees to the National Assembly for vetting.

During the charged debate ahead of voting for the report, members showered Malonza with accolades with Marsabit Woman Rep Naomi Waqo saying it was disappointing that the committee had to expose Malonza to ridicule yet she had all it takes to be a CS.

“Penina Malonza is qualified and I wonder why we have drawn the attention of her to the whole country,” she said.

Mavoko MP Patrick Makau, who also supported Malonza, told the new CSs that once they take over office, they should accord legislators the respect they deserve.

“When I look at the parameters, I am asking myself; is she qualified? Does she have the requisite papers? Has she served in government?

Campaign managers

Nominated MP John Mbadi said out of the 24 CSs, a majority were competent enough to deserve appointment. He, however, raised concerns that the nominees would not be able to bring any changes to the country because President Ruto only rewarded his campaign managers instead of looking for competent persons.

“The appointing authority only rewarded his campaign managers and did not focus on service delivery. This is a Cabinet that lacks integrity,” he said.

Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri said no one should be condemned on the basis that they are facing charges in court.

Those set to be appointed are former ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi (Prime Cabinet Secretary), former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi (Attorney-General), Garissa Township MP Aden Duale (Defense), Labour Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui (Co-oporatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development).

The others are Kandara MP Alice Wahome (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation), former Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki (Interior and National Administration), Jumwa (Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action), former Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria (Trade, Investment and Industry) and Susan Nakhumicha (Health).

Also vetted were Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (Roads, Transport and Public Works), former Narok Woman Rep Soipan Tuya (Environment and Forestry), former Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Prof Njuguna Ndung’u (National Treasury and Planning), Malonza (Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage) and former Nyaribari Masaba MP Ezekiel Machogu (Education).

Former Raila Odinga aide Eliud Owalo (ICT and Digital Economy), former KenGen boss Rebecca Miano (East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development), Florence Bore (Labour and Social Protection) and Zacharia Njeru (Lands, Housing and Urban Development) were vetted.

Also vetted were Davis Chirchir (Energy and Petroleum), former Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya (Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs), Mercy Wanjau (Secretary to the Cabinet), Alfred Mutua (Foreign and Diaspora Affairs) and Ababu Namwamba (Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts).