National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula has referred the nomination of MP Geoffrey Ruku and Hanna Cheptumo to the Committee on Appoitnments for consideration.
President William Ruto nominated Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku as the CS for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes.
If approved by Parliament, Ruku will replace Justin Muturi, who was relieved of his duties.
The President also nominated Cheptumo as CS in the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage.
In a statement on Tuesday, Wetang’ula said he had received the message of nomination from the President on Thursday last week.
“The President now seeks the approval of the nominees by this House. In this regard and pursuant to the provisions of section 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, CAP 7F as read together with Standing Order 42(3), I hereby refer the third Message from the President, together with the curriculum vitae of the nominees to the Committee on Appointments for consideration,” the speaker said.
Wetang’ula said that according to section 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, CAP 7F, unless otherwise provided in law, the committee shall consider the matter and table a report in the House within 28 days.
“In this regard, the Committee on Appointments is expected to immediately commence the approval hearing and report back to the House by Thursday, April 24, 2025, to allow consideration by the House within the statutory timelines.”
The Ministry of Gender has been without a CS since the National Assembly Committee on Appointments rejected the nomination of Stella Soi Lang’at in August 2024.
The Committee, whose report was adopted by the whole House, said Langat's nomination as CS for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage could not be approved, given that she failed to convince lawmakers that she was suitable for the role.
The Committee said the nominee did not demonstrate knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the portfolio to which she had been nominated.
In the report, members of the Committee, chaired by Wetang'ula argued that Langat failed to demonstrate adequate knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage to which she had been nominated to lead.
“The nominee is unsuitable for the position to which she was nominated as she was unable to respond in a satisfactory manner to the queries raised during the approval hearing relating to Gender, Heritage and Culture,” the report said.
During the recent mini Cabinet reshuffle, Ruto also nominated 14 Principal Secretaries and submittd their names to the National Assembly for consideration on March 24 and 25, 2025.
He also nominated four persons for the position od ambassador, permanent representatives and consul-generals.
Committees responsible for vetting the PS nominees are expected to submit their reports on April 22 while those vetting the envoys are expected to submit their reports a day later.
