National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi says House to summon CSs afresh

Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi addresses Cabinet Secretaries from various ministries during their breakfast meeting at Parliament. (PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO)

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has said fresh summons will be issued to cabinet secretaries to appear before the General Oversight Committee of the House on October 28.

Mr Muturi spoke after cabinet secretaries Jacob Kaimenyi (Education) and Joseph ole Lenku (Interior) failed to appear before the House last week.

The announcement also follows a meeting at State House at which it is understood President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed his displeasure over the summoning of his cabinet secretaries.

Speaking in Mombasa at the weekend, Muturi (pictured) said the standoff between the National Assembly and the Executive is administrative and will be solved soon.

"No one questions whether Parliament has the powers to summon the cabinet secretaries and even the Executive. The issue is administrative on how and when they should appear," said Muturi on Saturday in Mombasa.

Despite the change of standing orders, President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto are reported to be reluctant to have their cabinet secretaries appear before Parliament.

The Commission on Implementation of the Constitution has also waded into the debate, urging cabinet secretaries not to appear.