From left: Mutahi Kagwe, William Kabogo and Lee Kinyanjui
Parliament has approved President William Ruto’s three Cabinet Secretaries nominees, with lawmakers warning them against serving only Mt Kenya region.
The committee on appointments recommended the appointment of William Kabogo as the CS of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Lee Kinyanjui as the CS Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry and Mutahi Kagwe as the CS for Agriculture and Livestock development.
“Having conducted the approval hearings for the nominees pursuant to Article 152 (2) of the constitution of, sections 3 and 8 of the public Appointments Parliamentary Approval) Act and Standing Order 204 (4) of the National Assembly, the committee recommends for the appointment of Mr Mutahi Kagwe, Lee Kinyanjui and William Kabogo as Cabinet Secretaries,” reads the committee report.
This even as the Committee on Appointment chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula brushed aside 14 out of a total of 16 memoranda that were received from the public contesting the suitability of the three nominees.
The committee said only two memoranda complied with the Public Appointment (Parliament Approval) Act.
The committee said it received one statement on oath by Eliud Karanja Matindi contesting the suitability of the three nominees on grounds that their appointment as members of the national executive as it would be unconstitutional, given the current composition of the Cabinet as it would not reflect gender balance, regional balance and ethnic diversity and persons with disability.
Joseph Enock Aura sent a sworn affidavit contesting the suitability of Mr Kagwe on several grounds— including that the nominee violated section 21(1) of the Leadership and Integrity Act, which requires public officers to safeguard public property.
Mr Aura claimed that according to the auditor-general report for the year 2020/21, there was no fixed asset register of the ministry and there were no logbooks for 222 vehicles.
Mr Aura, who appeared before the vetting alongside his lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui in a failed attempt to cross-examine Mr Kagwe, claimed that the nominee committed the country to expend Sh300 million to procure unverified and experimental vaccines.
Despite the damning revelations against Mr Kagwe, the committee pushed the buck to the doorstep of the President.
“The memoranda of the deponents were written statements on oath and therefore complied with section 6(9) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act,’ the committee said in its observations.
“Articles 132(2) and 152(2) of the Constitution vests the power to constitute Cabinet solely on the President.”
During his vetting, Mr Kagwe denied any role in the scandals and informed the committee that he had replied to the contents of the allegations in a letter to the committee. Mr Kagwe’s responses to Mr Aura’s memorandum were not annexed to the report.
The House went on to adopt the report paving the way for the formal appointment of the three Cabinet Secretary nominees by Kagwe’s way of a gazette notice.
The three CSs, who are all politicians, are deemed as former President Uhuru Kenyatta allies are joining the executive when the Kenya Kwanza administration is facing hostility from members of the public, especially in Mt Kenya.
The nomination of the three is believed by pundits to be a strategic move by President Ruto to revive his popularity in Mt Kenya region which has dimmed after the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
While debating on the report, lawmakers warned the three against serving only one region and engaging in regional politics at the detriment of serving Kenyans from other parts of the country.
Minority leader Junet Mohamed said the three have not been brought on board to only serve a particular region but the people of Kenya warning them such a move would earn them an impeachment.
“If you start behaving like some people that we impeached, coming to my area and starting to bring greetings from your people, I’m going to chase you away. This House has a constitutional duty to impeach you. If you want to serve your village, go and be an MCA,” Mr Mohamed said.
Mr Mohammed also told Cabinet Secretaries opposed to government policies but are still serving in the same executive to resign.
“If you feel that you no longer believe in what the government is doing and its policies, just resign,” Mr Mohamed said.
“If you think you cannot serve the government anymore, go and do other things. You cannot be a Cabinet Secretary causing commotion in the government. Just resign and go and serve Kenyans in other areas,” he added.
Majority leader Kimani while moving the motion on the approval of the three Cabinet Secretaries pointed out that Mr Kagwe, who served as CS in Mr Kenyatta’s administration during the Covid-19 pandemic, did the best under difficult circumstances at that time.
Mr Kinyanjui midwifed the development of Nakuru County from a municipal town to a city
“They will serve all the people of this country with dedication just like they have served in other capacities they served previously,” said Mr Ichung’wah
He challenged Mr Kabogo to ensure that all parts of the country are able to access internet services and young people are able to earn from the connectivity.
The MPs said Mr Mutahi Kagwe has its work cut out by ensuring that farmers will access the market for their produce and ensuring that farming becomes profitable in the country.
“I hope that Mr Kagwe will not be swallowed by the cartels in the ministry. He should serve with integrity just like he did in the previous ministry.
For Mr Kinyanjui, the MPs said that he carried the burden of lifting the trade industry in the country.
They told the former Nakuru governor to ensure that Kenya regains its position where its trading commodities were contributing the highest to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product.
They told Mr Kinyanjui said that neighbouring countries have overtaken Kenya as far as the manufacturing industry is concerned contributing more to their GDP
“As a country, we have stagnated at 7 percent growth of GDP for the last seven years and I hope Mr Kinyanjui will do something about it,” Mr Ichung’wah said.
In terms of the memorandum filed against the three Cabinet Secretaries especially on conformity with the two thirds gender rule, Mr Ichung’wah said the committee on appointment looked at the totality of the composition of the Cabinet and not just the three.
On the question of regional balance, which was also raised by the memorandums received, Mr Ichung’wah said, the three new faces joining the executive are not doing that to serve the people of Mt Kenya only.
“Given the current composition of the Cabinet, the appointment of the nominees would violate Articles 27 (8) and 130 (2) of the constitution as it does not reflect gender balance, regional balance and ethnic diversity,” reads one of the memorandums sent to parliament challenging the three nominees.
“These three are not coming in to serve the people of Mt Kenya alone. Agriculture is not only in Mt Kenya, ICT is not only in Mt Kenya and issues of trade are not only in Mt Kenya. I want to encourage them to serve everyone,” Mr Ichung’wah.
Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe said as MPs from the sugar belt regions, they expect a lot from the new CS to turn around the agriculture sector
“We are looking up to you to ensure sugarcane farmers earn bonus and the cartels who hinder farmers from gaining are removed,” Mr Wangwe said.
Mr Wangwe also told Mr Kagwe to ensure that fertilisers get to the farmers at the right time for planting.
Marakwet East MP Kangongo Bowen urged Mr Kagwe to come to the rescue of farmers and ensure that Agriculture which is the backbone of the country is revived and its profitability felt by Kenyans.
