The National Assembly has called on Kenyans to offer comments on President William Ruto’s ambassadorial appointments that include former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
In a notice on Friday, March 28, Parliament invited Kenyans to provide any reasons why Ruto’s picks should not be approved.
President Ruto, a week ago, appointed Nakhumicha as the Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations Habitat in Nairobi.
Ruto also tapped former Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Sports, Peter Tum, as the Consul-General in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; James Muhati as Ambassador to Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; and Abdi Dubat Fidhow as Kenya’s Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania.
All four are set to face the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations next month.
According to a notice issued by National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge, the legislators will conduct the vetting of Ruto’s picks on Monday, April 7.
If you wish to submit an affidavit challenging the suitability of any of the four candidates for appointment, the clerk insists you must provide supporting evidence to be reviewed by the committee led by Nelson Koech.
Kenyans are encouraged to submit their affidavits by April 4 at 5 p.m. They can do so by delivering them in person to the clerk’s office, mailing them to the office, or sending them via email.
“…the Clerk of the National Assembly hereby invites members of the public to submit any representations they may have by way of written statements on oath [affidavits] with supporting evidence contesting the suitability of the candidates for appointment to the offices they have been nominated to,” reads part of the notice.
The nominees are required to present original academic certificates, clearance from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Kenya Revenue Authority, and a credit reference bureau.
The National Assembly has also scheduled approval hearings for 14 nominees to the position of Principal Secretary (PS).
The hearings are set to begin on April 4, and among the first to face scrutiny are Fikirini Katoi Kahindi Jacobs, nominated for the State Department for Youth Affairs, and Dr Oluga Fredrick Ouma, picked for the State Department for Medical Services.
