MPs: No sufficient reason to reject Kandie

Cabinet nominee Phyllis Kandie.

By Allan Kisia

Nairobi, Kenya: Members of the National Assembly came to the rescue of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism nominee Phyllis Kandie, who had been rejected by the Committee on Appointments during vetting.

Members argued that there were no sufficient reasons given as to why the committee found Kandie unfit for the job.

Leader of Majority Aden Duale had tabled a report in the House for approval but Nairobi Women Representative Rachael Shebesh moved an amendment to include Kandie in the list of those who had been accepted by the committee.

In her argument, Shebesh said the committee interviewed the nominees instead of vetting them. “The work of the committee is to vet nominees,” she reiterated.

She claimed that the committee wanted to look tough in its work and thus had to reject one nominee to appear competent.

“The reasons given for rejecting the nominee don’t fit the criteria given. I am begging the House to include her name in the list. She has been humiliated enough and she is so stressed right now,” pleaded Shebesh.

Duale however noted that all nominees were tax complaint and those who benefitted from Higher Education Loans Board had cleared their loans.

Leader of Minority Francis Nyenze said the vetting was fair but urged the House to approve the nominees except Kandie.

Duale said Tuesday was a happy day for him because Parliament and the Kenyan people had a role to play on who sits in the Cabinet.

However, Suba MP John Mbadi asked House Speaker Justin Muturi to compel the Leader of Majority to give good reasons as to why they rejected Kandie.

It is then that Gem MP said he would inform the House why they rejected Kandie’s nomination.

Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter contradicted Duale’s position and accused him of misleading the House on Kandie’s qualifications.

“It was wrong for Duale to say Kandie was not qualified for the position yet on the other hand state that she had no integrity problems and was academically qualified,” said Keter.

Knowledge of subject

Midiwo, a member of the committee told the House that they rejected Kandie because she did not understand what she would do with the ministry.

“It is her knowledge of the subject that failed her. Kenyans were following the vetting and they send messages saying that docket will have problems,” he added.

He added that the person who will handle tourism should be articulate to the subject.

Runyenje MP Cecily Mbarire said the committee rejected Kandie because of the way she answered questions.

“We know interviews can fail people because they may feel intimidated and they come when they are ill-prepared. The papers given by Kandie did not match the person who came for the interview,” she added.

She added that they expected her to be knowledgeable about the East African Community and COMESA among other regional organisations.

Shebesh said what the committee pointed as her weaknesses could turn out to be her strength.

“We know that sometimes, those who speak too much cannot run an organisation well. If you look at her previous work, you will find that she has succeeded,” added the Nairobi Women Representative.

Shebesh’s amendment was seconded by Kitutu Chache North MP Jimmy Angwenyi who said the committee gave so many positive sides of Kandie but went ahead and made a negative conclusion about her.

“We don’t understand why negative conclusions were given,” he explained.

The Committee on Appointments that is chaired by Muturi has rejected the nomination of Phyllis Kandie as Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism.

Majority whip in parliament Katoo Ole Metito informed parliament that all the other 15 nominated cabinet secretaries were unanimously approved by the committee which had also agreed that Kandie did not merit appointment.

Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo accused the committee of discriminating against women. She said it was ironical to say Kandie was qualified and then say she is not suitable for the job.

Shebesh noted that Kandie is a graduate, an investment banker and advised on matters to do with financial management.

“She was rejected simply because of the way she presented herself and answered questions. She probably was stammering, not sitting upright and not answering as quickly as expected,” she added.