Eugene Wamalwa and Juma to face House teams

NAIROBI: President Uhuru Kenyatta’s nominee for the position of Water Cabinet Secretary, Eugene Wamalwa, will now undergo vetting after his name was yesterday presented to the National Assembly.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi told the House he had received communication from the President, nominating the former Justice minister to the newly created Cabinet portfolio.

Consequently, Muturi has referred the matter to the Committee on Appointment that deals with presidential appointments for Cabinet positions.

“I direct the committee to consider the nominee, conduct their approval hearings and table the report within 14 days,” said Muturi.

Wamalwa will now await his grilling by the committee, chaired by the Speaker, which will determine whether he will return to the Cabinet after serving in former President Kibaki's government.

Also to face the vetting panel will be ambassador Monicah Juma, Uhuru’s appointee for the position of Secretary to the Cabinet.

Ms Juma’s name was committed before the Administration and National Security Committee, which is the line departmental committee, with a directive for the report on her suitability to be tabled in the House also in 14 days' time.

Juma was picked to the powerful position after the sacking of Francis Kimemia, who had held the position since it was split from the initial one of Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet that existed under Kibaki's regime.

President Kenyatta has since nominated Immigration boss Major General Gordon Kihalangwa to take Juma’s position as the Interior Permanent Secretary.