The Star has been reliably informed that the committee chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula unanimously approved 21 Cabinet secretaries nominees but were sharply divided on the fate of the remaining three.
Sources at the powerful committee who spoke in confidence said there was a deadlock for the better part of Monday on the fate of the nominees, whose suitability was contested by the Minority side.
“Just know there is no agreement, maybe we will strike a deal before tabling but just know we are not agreeing on three nominees,” a member of the 21-team that has been vetting the nominees told the Star.
According to our sources, members of the committee were yet to agree on the nomination of former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, former Meru Senator Mithika Linturi and former Gatundu South lawmaker Moses Kuria.
The three were among the nominees whose conduct was subject of heated debate during the vetting, with some members of the panel saying they fail the threshold of Chapter Six of the Constitution.
During the vetting, MPs raised issues over Jumwa's integrity, citing the ongoing murder case of 48-year-old Ngumbao Jola on October 15, 2020, when chaos broke out during the Ganda by-election.
Jumwa, however, denied involvement and told the committee she has never owned a gun all her life.
Linturi also faced a hard time before the panel that questioned how he would run the demanding docket and at the same time attend to his 35 cases before various courts in the country.
Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi also put the former senator to task on his integrity, especially rape accusations and forgery in the past. The rape case was, however, dropped days to the vetting.
According to Linturi, the cases were instigated against him due to his political stand and some were manufactured by the Director of Criminal Investigations who he confessed had personal issues with him.
Kuria, on the hand, came under fire from the vetting team over his temperament and own admission that he received a bribe in Parliament to vote on a report.
The former Gatundu South MP dismissed the accusation, explaining to the committee the bribe allegations were taken out of context.
President Ruto nominated Jumwa to the Public Service ministry, Linturi to head Agriculture and Kuria to the Trade and Investment docket.
Whereas the majority side was pushing for the committee’s stamp of approval on the entire list, Azimio, on the other side, demanded the three ‘tainted’ nominees be dropped.
The minority side argued that the character of the three do not inspire confidence and will bring disrepute to public offices they are nominated to head.
“We have raised objections based on their performance before the committee, during vetting and also the issues of integrity that is in public domain,” the source said.
Azimio, according to our source, was however ready to negotiate on Aisha and Kuria but not Linturi.
The minority side was by Monday evening contemplating writing a minority report with a hope to convince the House in shooting down the nominee/s.
If the team fails to strike a deal on the trio, their fate could be subject of a vote by MPs after the report is tabled.
The team, which has taken one week to vet the nominees, was expected to finalise its report writing on Monday ahead of tabling in Parliament on Tuesday, when the House resumes sitting after a 10-day short recess.
“It is ongoing to be tabled tomorrow (Tuesday), latest on Wednesday,” another member of the committee told the Star.
According to the Order Paper, a notice of motion and the report is expected to be tabled during Tuesday's sitting, paving way for debate on Wednesday afternoon.
Kenya Kwanza is, however, likely to carry the day on the floor given their numbers compared to Azimio, which has suffered serious political haemorrhage immediately after election, leaving the once behemoth outfit a shell in the House.
According to the recent ruling by Wetang’ula, Kenya Kwanza has a majority of 179 members compared to Azimio’s 157, meaning Kenya Kwanza will have its way in everything subjected to a vote.
The Wetang’ula team also vetted Musalia Mudavadi (Prime Cabinet Secretary, Alice Wahome (Water), Simon Chelugui (Cooperatives), Justin Muturi (Attorney General), Njuguna Ndung’u (Treasury), Penina Malonza (Tourism), Aden Duale (Defence) and Eliud Owalo (ICT).
Others are Ezekiel Machogu (Education), Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport), Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Davis Chirchir (Energy), Mercy Wanjau (Secretary to the Cabinet), Ababu Namwamba (Sports), Alfred Mutua (Foreign Affairs), Rebecca Miano (EAC), Florence Bore (Labour), Soipan Tuya (Environment), Salim Mvurya (Mining) and Zachariah Mwangi (Lands).
Apart from the approval of nominees, full in-tray awaits MPs who are expected to, among others, consider nominees for principal secretaries – names that would soon be submitted to the House by the President.
The House would also consider the nine members to the East Africa Legislative Assembly. Already, a joint team has been set up to receive applications and vet the applicants.
The lawmakers are also expected to deliberate on the issue of lifting of the decade long ban on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and drought that is ravaging some parts of the country.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
