President Uhuru Kenyatta nominates Kazungu Kambi, Joseph ole Lenku to Cabinet

By Allan Kisia

Nairobi, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has submitted names of the last two Cabinet nominees to the National Assembly for approval.

House Speaker Justin Muturi noted that the National Assembly is required to conclude the process of approval or rejection of the nominees within 14 days from the date of notification.

“I now direct that the nominees’ names and curriculum vitae be forwarded to the Committee on Appointments for the necessary approval hearings to be conducted,” said Muturi.

Uhuru nominated Joseph J. Ole Lenku as Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and Samwel Kazungu Kambi to the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services.

The Speaker directed that the Committee on Appointments should notify the nominees and the general public of the time and place for holding the approval hearings, at least seven days prior to the hearings.

“Owing to the strict statutory deadlines, I now order that the notification be made Saturday May 25, 2013,” he stated.

Muturi said the committee may commence the hearings on Monday June 3, 2013.

“The committee hearings shall be open to the public. I also order that the tenets of public participation be strictly adhered to,” he added.

He added that the committee should table its report before the House on or before Wednesday June 5, 2013 for consideration.

The vetting will focus on candidates’ academic credentials, professional training and experience, personal integrity and background.

The committee is mandated to determine the time and place for the holding of the approval hearing and shall inform the Clerk, who will notify the candidates of the time and place for the holding of an approval hearing.

Any person may, prior to the approval hearing, and by written statement on oath, provide the Clerk with evidence contesting the suitability of a candidate to hold the office to which the candidate has been nominated.

The committee has power to summon any person to appear before it for the purpose of giving evidence or providing information during approval hearing.

If after expiry of the period for consideration, Parliament has neither approved nor rejected a nomination of a candidate, the candidate shall be deemed to have been approved.

If the nomination of a candidate is rejected by Parliament, the appointing authority may submit to the relevant House the name of another candidate for a fresh process.