Ruku, Cheptumo a step closer to becoming CSs
Gender Cabinet Secretary nominee Hanna Wendot Cheptumo and Public Service nominee Geoffrey Ruku.
Two of President William Ruto’s Cabinet nominees, Geoffrey Ruku and Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, are a step closer to assuming office.
This is after the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments said they possess requisite abilities, academic qualifications and professional experience to be approved for Cabinet Secretary jobs.
The Committee's post-vetting report says they demonstrated knowledge relevant to the portfolios to which they have been nominated.
The report follows in-person hearings, which have over time become a mere formality for CS appointees.
The development comes despite misgivings from some of the MPs and the public on the suitability of the nominees for appointment.
Controversial comments
Ms Cheptumo, the widow of former Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, stirred controversy during her vetting after suggesting that young women who have fallen victim to femicide are killed because they are “chasing after money.”
“They are educated but those ones are looking for money. Yes. You know a girl has many needs.”
However, the MPs who vetted her reckon she's suitable for the job as she has relevant experience in the public service — having previously served as a cooperatives officer and a member of the disciplinary committee of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.
On the other hand, Mbeere North MP Ruku battled accusations of being highly partisan, pushing for controversial legislative proposals and divisive political pronouncements as well as his relative inexperience in the public service — having served as a lawmaker for less than three years.
The vetting team, however, observed that Mr Ruku, who is gunning to replace Justin Muturi, demonstrated knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on governance. It added that he has relevant experience in public service having served as an MP and trustee of the Water Services Trust Fund.
“The nominee has neither been charged in a court of law nor adversely mentioned in any investigatory report of Parliament or any Commission of Inquiry in the past three years,” the report says.
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