Azimio MPs ask parliament to reject Ruto’s CS nominees ‘with criminal cases’
A section of elected leaders in the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition has criticized President William Ruto's nominees to various Cabinet positions.
Led by ODM party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the MPs said some of the nominees don't meet the qualifications set out in Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.
Ruto nominees 'tainted'
The Nairobi Senator alleged that half of the team unveiled by the Head of State has integrity issues.
While faulting Ruto for denying 'decent' allies in Kenya Kwanza Alliance an opportunity to serve, Sifuna urged his colleagues in the National Assembly to reject the nominees implicated in criminal cases.
"Kenya Kwanza actually has half decent people in its ranks. That they went for the very worst of the bunch for Cabinet should tell you that there is no intention to Govern at all. I mean is that a proposed cabinet list or a criminal cases update from the office of the DPP?" the Senator posed.
"If our colleagues in the National Assembly stay true to their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, more than half of those criminals proposed should not make it to Cabinet," he added.
If our colleagues in the National Assembly stay true to their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, more than half of those criminals proposed should not make it to Cabinet.— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) September 27, 2022
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina also weighed in on the debate, insisting that the nominees should be subjected to 'serious' vetting on integrity and competency.
"Now on a serious note … the National Assembly you need to vet the nominees seriously against chapter 6 as well as competency … it’s a paradigm shift from technocrats to politicians … what’s does this mean to the cooperate world and economic recovery of a nation wallowing in debt?" Olekina tweeted.
Now on a serious note … the @NAssemblyKE you need to vet the nominees seriously against chapter 6 as well as competency … it’s a paradigm shift from technocrats to politicians … what’s does this mean to the cooperate world and economic recovery of a nation wallowing in debt?
— Sen. Ledama Olekina (@ledamalekina) September 27, 2022
Yesterday, Ruto unveiled a 22-member Cabinet to help him deliver his campaign promises to Kenyans.
He expressed confidence that the team will deliver on their mandate, once approved by the parliament.
"I have trust in their competence and suitability to execute their duties and implement our PLAN that millions of Kenyans voted for," Ruto said.
Some of the nominees with pending cases in court include former Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa, who was nominated as Public Service and Gender CS, and former Meru Senator Mithika nominated to take over from Peter Munya in the Agriculture docket.
Jumwa and her bodyguard Geoffrey Okuto are linked to the death of Ngumbao Jola, a 48-year-old-man, who was murdered in the chaos that ensued during campaigns for a by-election in Ganda Ward in Malindi on October 15, 2019.
She is also battling graft charges over the alleged misappropriation of ksh19 million, funds meant for the Malindi Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Minturi, on the other hand, was in September last year charged with attempted rape. The former legislator is alleged to have attempted to sexually assault a woman at the Maiyan Villas Hotel in Nanyuki, Laikipia County on January 10, 2021.
“On January 30, 2021, at around the 3am at Maiyan Villas Hotel, Nanyuki in Laikipia East Sub-County in the Republic of Kenya, you (Linturi) intentionally touched the [woman] without her consent,” the charges read in part.
He is out on Ksh200, 00 cash bail.
