Classified emails cast doubt on Uhuru nominees to cabinet

NAIROBI, KENYA: Pending cases among President Uhuru Kenyatta’s nominees to the cabinet now stands between them and the top job.

Classified emails that exchanging hands between the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and Parliament over their suitability to hold public office, has cast doubt on their chances to clinch the cabinet positions.

The Jubilee administration may suffer a major blow if the National Assembly rejects the names of some of the President’s nominees to the post of Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and Principal Secretaries (PSs) respectively.

The Standard can authoritatively report that there was intense lobbying within government circles to have some of these nominees, whose fitness to hold public office are  in doubt following the report by investigating agencies like EACC and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) cleared.

The correspondence, which the Standard is privy to, EACC, informed the vetting committees through the Assembly clerk Justin Bundi and Speaker Justin Muturi of the pending cases affecting some of these nominees schedule to undergo the interview today.

The nominees must meet the requirements of the Leadership and Integrity Act, Public Officers Ethics Act and the constitution to be appointed in the public office.

The issues border on alleged abuse of office, professional misconduct, incompetence and fraud.

The ghosts of past work stations and business ventures have come back to hunt the nomination, whom the president affirmed will be required to spearhead his  government’s development as he spoke firm on graft.

The affected nominees for the CS position are Mwangi Kiunjuri (devolution and planning), Malindi MP Dan Kazungu (Mining) and Joe Mucheru (ICT) while others are for the PSs post.

Though Muturi, who is also the chair of the committee on appointments, vetting the CSs, he did not diverge the names of the affected nominees or the nature of their cases, however he assured the public that the exercise will be credible.

“I am aware there are concerns that have been raised against some of the nominees. My committee as well as the other departmental committees will make a determination after going through the documents availed to us,” said Muturi, who spoke to the Standard on phone from United Kingdom (UK).

He continued, “The report is there but will treat every issue as it comes.  Every matter will be considered on merit. EACC has written to us and its now upon us to deal with the cases. The committee will examine the nature of each allegation and address them on a case to case basis.”

He explained, “The nominees might face all manner of cases but the ultimate decision rests with the committee at the MPs plenary. We will deal with them on merit and look at various aspects bordering on breach of the law, like professional misconduct among others.”

When the Standard contacted Mucheru, he denied knowledge of any pending case, maintaining his documents are in order and awaits his day with the MPs today.

“Nobody has contacted me or raised any disapproval with my particulars or professional conduct. I am waiting to appear before the committee tomorrow (today) to respond to any queries raised on my suitable to take up this job,” Mucheru told the Standard on phone.

Kiunjuri, who is also the former Laikipia East MP, told the Standard that EACC had cleared him of any allegations in the past and would be surprised if any cropped up.

“I have been cleared by EACC unless there is something else I do not know. I have also heard the matter cropping up. As of Wednesday, I knew I was cleared and my documents in order, I am shocked that EACC is still registering its reservations,” Kiunjuri informed the Standard.

He remains confident about his nomination, stating that, “If anything comes up ahead of tomorrow’s (today) vetting, which am not aware of, I will be glad to tackle it at the interview. However, I will try to check with the committee on the same.”

Victor Kyalo, the nominee for the position of PS, ICT and innovation also has to satisfy the department committee that he is clean of any claims of evidence brought against him during the vetting process.

The National Assembly had asked members of the public, including state organs will any information disapproving the appointment of the cabinet nominations to send the same to Bundi.

Attempts by the  Standard to a comment from EACC proved futile despite making numerous calls to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Halakhe Waqo, including a text and email to the commission.

Surprisingly by the time of going to press the tune had changed, it was now alleged that some of the nominations disapproved by EACC had been cleared, except Kazungu and Kyalo.

Efforts to get a comment from Kazungu also became difficult as he did not respond to calls and text messages to respond on the same.

The obstacles facing the president’s nominee come at a time; the government is on the spot over run away graft.

Seven CSs will be vetted by Muturi’s committee while 24 PSs will appear before the department committees, over sighting their respective ministries.