- The vetting committee says she failed to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of key issues touching on her docket.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
The National Assembly Committee on Appointments has explained why it rejected the nomination of Stella Soi Langat as the Gender Cabinet Secretary nominee.
A report tabled by the committee on the floor of the House says the nominee failed to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of key issues touching on her docket during the vetting process.
"Pursuant to sections of6 (7), 6 (8) and 7 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, the committee observed that Ms Stella Soi Langat failed to demonstrate adequate knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the portfolio to which she had been nominated," the report states.
"...she lacked the requisite abilities, and qualities to be approved for appointment to the office of Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, The Arts and Heritage."
While moving the motion, National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah clarified that her rejection was not in any way an indictment of her capability or competence to perform other responsibilities.
“It is only her suitability to hold the position of a cabinet secretary for Gender,” he said.
Ichung’wah said the president, in fact, has the prerogative to nominate her for any other position other than she had been nominated for.
He added that he (President William Ruto) also has a right to nominate another person from the region, area or village with the requisite experience to serve in the office.
The report, however, states that all the other nominees "demonstrated knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the portfolios to which they had been nominated".
It says they had the requisite abilities, academic qualifications and professional experience to be approved for appointment.
The National Assembly Plenary will now decide whether to reject the vetting committee report or approve it as it is.
If the plenary adopts the report as it is, President William Ruto will have to nominate another person to the ministry.
The fresh nominee, should there be one, will still face the Committee on appointments for vetting and approval.
Soi was among the first batch of 20 Cabinet Secretary nominees vetted Thursday, last week.
Those approved include Aden Duale (Environment), Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Alice Wahome (Lands), Alfred Mutua (Labour), Salim Mvurya (Trade), Justin Muturi (Public Service), Soipan Tuya (Defence), Kipchumba Murkomen (Sports), Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport) Rebecca Miano (Wildlife and Tourism), Debra Mulongo Barasa (Health), and Julius Migosi Ogamba (Education).
Others are Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture and Livestock Development), Eric Muriithi Muuga (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation), Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u (Information, Communication and Digital Economy), John Mbadi (National Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Hassan Joho (Mining) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives).