Wetang’ula directs house committees to commence vetting of Ruto’s newly nominated CSs

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has directed respective house committees to commence approval hearings for President William Ruto’s recent nominations of persons for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries, High Commissioners and Ambassador, and Members of the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Wetang’ula in a notification to the Members of Parliament dated Friday, December 20, 2024, 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.

“Whereas, Standing Order 42(2) requires that, whenever a Message is received from the President at a time when the House is not in Session, the Speaker shall forthwith cause the Message to be transmitted to every Member and shall report the Message to the House when it next sits;

“It is notified to all Members of the National Assembly that, on 20th December 2024, I received Messages from His Excellency the President, notifying of the nomination of persons for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries; High Commissioners, Ambassador, Permanent Representative and Consul-General; and Vice-Chairperson and Members of the Public Service Commission,” the notification reads in part.

Wetang’ula refers names to committees

Wetang’ula referred the names of Cabinet Secretary nominees to the Committee on Appointments, nominees to the positions of High Commissioners, Ambassadors Permanent Representative and Consul-General to the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations; and nominees to the positions of Vice-Chairperson and Members of the Public Service Commission to the Departmental Committee on Labour.

“The Committees are required to commence the necessary vetting processes as contemplated under the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, CAP 7F and Standing Order 45 (Committal of public appointments to Committees) and upon conclusion of the approval hearings, submit respective reports by close of business on 15th January 2025,” Wetang’ula stated.

He further allowed the three committees to hold sittings during the recess period to expedite the vetting process.

“Notwithstanding the suspension of Committee activities, the three (3) Committees are hereby permitted to hold sittings during the recess period for purposes of considering the nominees,” he stated.

Ruto’s Cabinet changes

President William Ruto on December 19, 2024, nominated Mutahi Kagwe, Lee Kinyanjui, and William Kabogo for key Cabinet Secretary positions as part of his ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership in vital sectors of government.

The nominations come as part of a wider reshuffle aimed at optimizing service delivery and driving the administration’s ambitious Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

Kagwe was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, while Lee Kinyanjui will now head the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, a strategic portfolio focused on boosting Kenya’s investment climate and trade relations.

Kabogo has been appointed Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy, taking charge of Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.

Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u was nominated as High Commissioner to Ghana, where she will strengthen Kenya’s bilateral relations with the West African nation.

 Dorothy Angote has been nominated High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, continuing Kenya’s efforts to deepen ties with Southern Africa, while Andrew Karanja will serve as Ambassador to Brazil, playing a key role in enhancing Kenya’s relations with Latin America.

Ababu Namwamba will represent Kenya as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) / United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). Namwamba’s experience in government is expected to bolster Kenya’s environmental diplomacy on the global stage.