It's all systems go as Parliament set to vet Cabinet nominees

On Thursday, the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula communicated to the House that President William Ruto had officially submitted the names of 24 individuals he had nominated to be part of his Cabinet.

The submission was confirmed before the Wetang'ula made a ruling on who between Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja had the majority in the August House.

He said Kenya Kwanza has the majority in the National Assembly with 179 MPs against Azimio’s 157.

The stalemate that followed this dispute had caused anxiety among Kenyans as it seemed to be what was delaying the vetting of the Cabinet Secretary nominees.

Now that the parliamentary leadership is known following Wetang'ula’s ruling, it’s all systems go for Parliament to begin the vetting.

From the list submitted to the National Assembly, sources say that ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi could be the first Cabinet nominee to face the Appointments Committee chaired by Wetang'ula.

Mudavadi is the nominee for the position of Prime Cabinet Secretary.

He will be followed by Kithure Kindiki who is the CS nominee for Interior and National Administration.

The Kenya Kwanza members include the 14 members who the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP) listed under Azimio, but according to Wetangula’s ruling, had lawfully switched their membership to Kenya Kwanza.

The members are from MDG, MCC, PAA and UDM, parties which had signed a pre-election pact with RPP and a post-election deal with Kenya Kwanza.

Parliament will now have a house business committee in place which will constitute the Committee of Appointments by Tuesday, as directed by the Speaker.

The Clerk of the National Assembly will then communicate to the nominees and the public the venue and time of vetting by advertising in local dailies and the Parliament website.

The committee will then commence the approval hearings and is expected to table its report in Parliament on or before October 27, 2022.

According to the law, the National Assembly will then be required to consider the report from the Committee within seven days of receiving it. This will be on or before November 3, 2022.

The House will then adopt the Committee’s report and if the nominees are approved, Parliament will communicate their decision to the President.

The nominees will then be sworn-in and become substantive office holders and members of the Cabinet.