The Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula on Tuesday announced that all cabinet secretary nominees fronted by President William Ruto last week including those who served in the now dissolved former cabinet will be vetted.
While addressing the members of parliament during an afternoon session, Wetangula clarified that every person nominated by the president regardless of the previous appointment was subject to fresh vetting.
According to the speaker, the mandate was comprehensively stipulated in the Public Appointments and Parliamentary Approval Act.
“The public appointments parliamentary approval act says, the persons to be vetted include those appointed and reappointed,” Wetangula stated.
“Of course, I heard in a public forum whether persons who have been dismissed qualified to be reappointed. The answer is in the affirmative,” he added.
Wetangula further clarified that unless a CS had been dismissed for violating Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity, they had the right to get reappointed back to the cabinet.
According to the speaker, President William Ruto while dismissing the cabinet secretaries, did not reveal the sole reason for sacking them and thus were eligible for reappointment.
"Therefore, as per the Public Appointments and Parliamentary Approval Act, you will vet them for consideration for a reappointment," Wetangula directed.
Wetangula's announcement comes hardly a week after President William Ruto unveiled the names of the first batch of 11 nominees for the cabinet secretary positions.
While addressing the press at State House in Nairobi on Friday, July 19, Ruto announced that six members of the former cabinet would be making a comeback, an announcement that immediately proved unpopular amongst Kenyans.
Among those proposed for reinstating included; Kithure Kindiki (Interior and National Administration), Aden Duale (Forestry), Alice Wahome (Lands, Public Works), Soipan Tuya (Defence) and Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport).
Similarly, President Ruto nominated the former Trade Cabinet Secretary, Rebecca Miano to the position of the Attorney General. If approved, she would be Kenya's first female legal advisor to the government.
