National Assembly announces dates for vetting of recently nominated Cabinet Secretaries

The National Assembly has announced dates for vetting of the names of the recent Cabinet Secretary nominees days after Speaker Moses Wetang’ula directed respective house committees to commence approval hearings.

Wetang’ula in a notification to the Members of Parliament dated Friday, December 20, 2024, had referred the nominees to the respective house committees and directed them to commence the necessary vetting process, and submit a report by close of business on January 15, 2025.

The National Assembly Committee on Appointments is set to conduct approval hearings for the three nominees proposed by President William Ruto for CS positions, on January 14, 2025, at County Hall, Parliament Buildings.

Vetting timelines

Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge in an announcement made on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, gave the timelines for all the three CS nominees.

“Pursuant to Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution and Section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), the committees shall conduct approval hearings (vetting) of the nominees on the dates, times, and venues indicated in the schedule,” an announcement placed in the local dailies reads in part.

President Ruto in his recent Cabinet changes nominated Mutahi Kagwe, the former Health Cabinet Secretary under retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, to head the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has been designated for the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, while former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui has been proposed to lead the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry.

Kagwe is scheduled to appear before the Committee on Appointments, chaired by Speaker Wetang’ula, as the first nominee on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at noon.

Kabogo will take the stand at 3:00 p.m., followed by Lee Kinyanjui at 5:00 pm.

High commissioner nominees

Additionally, the departmental committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations will vet nominees for ambassadorial, high commissioner, and diplomatic representative positions on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Committee Room 9, 1st Floor, Main Parliament Buildings.

Among the nominees is Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u, the immediate former Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, who has been nominated as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Accra, Ghana.

She will appear before the committee, chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, at 9:00 am.

Andrew Karanja, the immediate former Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, has been nominated as Kenya’s Ambassador to Brazil and is scheduled to appear at 11:00 am.

Ababu Namwamba, the former Sports Cabinet Secretary, who has been nominated as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, will face the panel at 2:00 pm.

Former Deputy Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow, nominated as Consul-General to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, will conclude the vetting at 4:00 pm.

The nominees have been instructed to appear for the hearings with their original identity cards, academic and professional certificates, and other relevant testimonials.