By ALLAN KISIA
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto’s Cabinet nominees face vetting from today.
There were reports earlier that Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) members of the parliamentary Committee on Appointments, were planning to boycott the exercise.
But Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo assured they would be present during the scrutiny. He said CORD had not pulled out of the committee, due to wrangles around the composition of two watchdog committees: The Parliamentary Investment Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr Midiwo further said they had not withdrawn from other committees. Leader of Majority Aden Duale said the vetting would go on as planned, noting they had arranged a meeting to consider public memoranda
“If we don’t vet them, they will automatically be Cabinet Secretaries when the time for doing this exercise expires,” he said. Suba MP John Mbadi had earlier indicated CORD members in the Appointments team might not participate in the exercise.
“The other side might go on and vet the nominees without us but raise the issue of integrity of the process,” he added. Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau expressed confidence that the exercise will commence without hitches. “I have no information on whether the CORD side has withdrawn from the committee. If they don’t come, it will be too bad but I am sure they will be there,” he said.
National Assembly Clerk Justin Bundi invited the nominees to Kenyatta International Conference Centre Amphitheatre hall in Nairobi from Thursday to Saturday. Each of the 16 nominees has been allocated the date and time they are to appear before the committee. “All candidates should bring with them original copies of their identity cards, academic and professional certificates and any other supporting documents and testimonials,” said Bundi in the letter.
The first to appear before the vetting team on Thursday at 9am will be Ms Anne Waiguru, the Devolution and Planning nominee.
