Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Chairman John Mbadi has warned Jubilee Members of Parliament (MPs) ahead of the vetting of President Uhuru Kenyatta's cabinet nominees.
The National Assembly Minority Leader has cautioned the MPs to reject the nominees if at all their history cannot be easily understood.
"Vetting of Cabinet Secretaries need to be based on certain parameters and our friends in Jubilee should adhere to certain elements like ensuring that the nominees meet high levels of integrity and also ensure that they are competent individuals who can be able to deliver.
"If you are bringing someone to become Cabinet Secretary whose history is not well documented then the Jubilee members need to ask themselves if they are doing the country justice," Mr Mbadi stated.
[caption caption="ODM Chairman John Mbadi"]
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The Suba South legislator emphasised that National Super Alliance (NASA) MPs would not participate in the vetting exercise as they do not recognise President Kenyatta's presidency.
"As a coalition, we still stand by the decision not to have our party representatives in the Committee on Appointments," the Chairman explained.
Speaker Justin Muturi acknowledged having received communication from the Opposition wing notifying him that they had opted out of the vetting process.
In response, he stated: "The capability of Jubilee members in the committee to vet the nominees is not based on their qualification or their political party. Jubilee members are very much capable to scrutinize the suitability of the nine nominated individuals to hold their respective offices."
The Opposition leader, however, added that should the nominees be approved by Parliament, then the Opposition will work with them.
"If finally, those are the guys that will be occupying those positions, the Opposition will not rest in playing its oversight role and monitoring the activities of the nominees," Mr Mbadi stated.
Parliament is scheduled to vet the nominees on Thursday and Friday with a majority of the candidates facing the committee on February 8.
[caption caption="File image of former DPP Keriako Tobiko during a past appearance before Parliament"]
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Those to be vetted on Thursday are: Margaret Kobia (Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs), John Munyes (Petroleum and Mining), Monica Juma (Foreign Affairs and International Trade), Farida Karoney (Lands, Housing and Urban Development) and Peter Munya (East African Community and Northern Corridor Development).
On Friday those to be vetted are: Keriako Tobiko (Environment and Forestry), Simon Chelugui (Water and Sanitation), Ukur Yattani (Labour and Social Protection) and Rashid Achesa (Sports and Heritage).
