New twist over Uhuru's new cabinet secretaries

dennis kibet

January 8, 2018 12:13 PM

Uhuru on Friday retained six of his CSs and named three new members to his cabinet.

The fate of President Uhuru Kenyattas new cabinet line-up has taken a new twist following the latest declaration by National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi.

On Friday, in an address to the nation, President Kenyatta retained Cabinet secretaries Fred Matiang’i (Interior), Charles Keter (Energy), Najib Balala (Tourism), Henry Rotich (Treasury), Joe Mucheru (ICT) and James Macharia (Transport).

Fresh vetting

He at the same time appointed new CSs who include Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko, former Marsabit governor Ukur Yatani and former Turkana Senator John Munyes.

After the announcement the National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale announced the six CSs who retained their dockets following President Kenyatta’s re-organisation of the Government, will not be vetted afresh.

He said Parliament will not be recalled for “mere reading of the names of the new appointees.”

“Parliament in the last session passed a motion exempting the speaker from recalling the house for merely reading and conveying the President’s message to the house and sending the names to the respective committees,” Duale said.

Ignorance

However, speaking on Monday at Parliament buildings, Mbadi termed Duale's statement as ignorance.

Mbadi insisted that all the CSs should be vetted.

"Duale's statement is a serious level of ignorance that I do not understand. Surely, Duale my friend, with your position you cannot show such a level of ignorance," Mbadi stated.

The National Assembly is expected to be convened for a special sitting to either approve or reject the cabinet names within the 14days window as provided for in public appointment parliamentary act of 2011.

dennis kibet