National Assembly has approved all 27 President Ruto’s nominees for ambassadors and heads of missions after vetting.

MPs nod now set the ball rolling for their appointment before being dispatched to the different designated envoys.

The Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations tabled the report on their suitability for the job following the conclusion on vetting of ambassadorial nominees.

Belgut MP Nelson Koech who chairs the committee while moving the motion for ambassadorial nominee approval mentioned they had received memorandum from one Karanja Mutindi contesting the approval of the 27 nominees.

Mutindi argued that the SRC had not set remuneration and benefit payable to the persons holding the office of the High Commissioner, Ambassador and Diplomatic Consular representatives hence opposing their approval.

He further asserted in the absence of the remuneration and benefit, any recommendation for appointment will violate the Constitution.

“However, the committee observed that the memorandum addresses a totally different matter that touches on the mandate of the SRC and is not in any way addressing the fundamental role of the National Assembly of conducting approval hearings,” Koech said.

The Belgut MP had also received a memo to oppose nomination of George Macgoye to Djibouti who was mentioned in a matter involving a large irregular payment of legal fees by Kenya Maritime Authority.

The Defence and Foreign relation observed that Macgoye was under investigation by EACC which by law has no power to declare anyone guilty.

“It is important to advise the EACC that as much they have a constitutional mandate to investigate matters touching on corruption, it is not wise to write letters and say “so and so has been mentioned on a matter that we are investigating,” said Ichungwah.

The list of nominees who have been approved will fill ambassadorial roles in South Africa, India, Rwanda, Botswana, Malaysia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among others.

The Defence Committee interrogated the nominees on their academic qualifications and professional competence for the job, as well as their individual knowledge of the different destinations they have been nominated to for appointment.

The Committee also ascertained the nominees clearance by the relevant institutions; including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) and Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.

Members sought to know from the nominees any public offices they had previously held and also asked them to declare their wealth and net worth, including deferred income and outside commitments and tax status. By Irene Mwangi, Capital News

Senate Standing Orders require 15 Senators to be in the chamber or attend virtual

Senators are now demanding the impeachment of Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria over his disparaging remarks on the house on the ouster proceedings of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.

On a point of order, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruyoit castigated CS Kuria calling for his sacking saying his conduct has been embarrassment to the appointment authority.

Senators were expressing disappointment concerning CS Kuria statement on the X platform formerly known as twitter poking holes on the evidence and charges tabled against Governor Mwangaza saying they don’t warrant impeachment.

“That tweet was in bad taste. It paints senators as two people who have no cognitive abilities to make interpretation of the matters that are before us and make a sober decision,” Cheruyoit stated.

“Mr. Speaker, it’s the earliest chance that CS Kuria is laid off his duty, the better for this administration, Mr. Speaker because every single day, in every action that he undertakes, he continues to embarrass the president and the people,” he said.

Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang implored the leadership of the House to commence the proceeding of censuring the Cabinet Secretary in the National Assembly which has the mandate to undertake the process.

“I will speak I want to urge the members of the other house because they’re the ones who have the responsibility of censoring and sending home cabinet secretaries to take serious judicial notice of the conduct of this particular cabinet secretary and this house through the relevant committee can come up with resolutions that can then be used to move the other house to discuss his conduct and to have intention,” Kajwang noted.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna who has previously questioned the appointment of CS Kuria to the Cabinet termed the embattled Cabinet Secretary as a national shame.

“Speaker, one of the things that I asked myself is just how much embarrassment does the President have capacity to endure?” he posed.

Meru Senator Murungi Kathuri urged President William Ruto to relieve CS Kuria off his duties saying he is a shame to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance administration warning him to keep off Meru politics.

“CS Kuria is an embarrassment to the people who voted for the Kenya Kwanza government and should be relived his duties immediately. The President should take notice on the comments we are making and CS Kuria should stay away from Meru politics,” Kathuri said.

Yesterday night, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi had warned CS Kuria over his comments on the proceedings in the Senate on the impeachment of Meru Governor.
Kingi cautioned the Cabinet Secretary against making any further comments on the impeachment, failure to which he will be summoned.

“I, therefore, caution Moses Kuria, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, and all other persons to desist from adversely making utterances whether written or spoken with the conduct of the impeachment process which may prejudice the just and fair disposal of the present matter,” Kingi said.

CS Kuria ignored the caution and instead mentioned a list of Senators in what has been misconstrued as involvement on the house business.

He mentioned Senators; Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Jackson Mandago( Uasin Gishu), Hillary Sigei(Bomet), Alex Mundigi(Embu), Samson Cherargei( Nandi), Lenku Seki(Kajiado), Fatuma Dullo(Isiolo),Abdullahi Haji(Garissa), Kamau Murango(Kirinyaga), Wahome Wamatinga(Nyeri), Kathuri Murungi(Meru), Enoch Wambua(Kitui) and Moses Kajwang(Homa Bay) on X. By Irene Mwangi, Capital News