Members of Parliament yesterday unanimously cleared President Uhuru Kenyatta’s nine Cabinet nominees, consequently paving the way for their appointment.
The Jubilee-dominated National Assembly approved each of the nominees through acclamation in the afternoon sitting that was boycotted by MPs allied to the National Super Alliance (NASA).
The MPs' nod now gives Uhuru the go-ahead to appoint nominees Margaret Kobia (Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs), John Munyes (Petroleum and Mining), Monica Juma (Foreign Affairs), Farida Karoney (Lands), and Peter Munya (East African Community) to serve in their various dockets.
Others to be appointed to the Cabinet are Simon Chelugui (Water and Sanitation), Rashid Echesa (Sports), Ukur Yattany (Labour), and Keriako Tobiko (Environment).
Echesa's academic qualifications dominated the debate, with Jubilee MPs defending him, saying one did not require academic papers to discharge duties as a Cabinet secretary.
READ MORE
Isolating Uhuru? Ruto took his base, party and now has Raila
Uhuru earns rare praise as Mt Kenya leaders extend olive branch
Uhuru eulogises ex-police boss King'ori Mwangi as dedicated officer
The legislators gave the example Njenga Karume, whom they said performed well despite not having formal education.
The vetting report notes that Echesa studied in Shibale Primary School but provides no further education qualifications.
“He attended Shibale Primary School from 1990 to 1997. Due to his humble background and challenges of school fees, he was not able to continue with his education,” reads the report
Locked out
Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo (Independent), however, challenged Echesa to go back to school to avoid being locked out from such positions in the future should an academic requirement be introduced.
“I'm impressed by Echesa but let him take time and go back to school and study while working,” said Kilonzo.
Majority Leader Aden Duale, who moved the motion, said the job was not about academics but the ability to perform the task.