Former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui is set to appear before the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments on January 14, 2025, as part of the vetting process for Cabinet Secretary nominees. Kinyanjui, nominated to lead the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, will be the last of three nominees to face the panel that day.
The approval hearings will be conducted at County Hall, Parliament Buildings, with proceedings chaired by National Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula. Kinyanjui’s session is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
Other nominees include Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, former Health Cabinet Secretary under retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has been proposed to head the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Kagwe will appear before the committee as the first nominee at noon.
Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, nominated to lead the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, will take the stand at 3:00 p.m.
Vetting for Ambassadorial and Diplomatic Roles
Separately, the departmental committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations will vet nominees for ambassadorial, high commissioner, and diplomatic representative positions on Friday, January 10, 2025. The sessions will take place in Committee Room 9, 1st Floor, Main Parliament Buildings.
Key nominees include Ms. Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u, the immediate former Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, who has been nominated as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Accra, Ghana. Ndung’u’s vetting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m.
Dr. Andrew Karanja, former Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, has been proposed as Kenya’s Ambassador to Brazil and will face the panel at 11:00 a.m.
At 2:00 p.m., Hon. Ababu Namwamba, former Sports Cabinet Secretary, will be vetted for the position of Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi.
The final session will feature former Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. Noor Gabow, nominated as Consul-General to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, at 4:00 p.m.
Public Service Commission Nominees
The departmental committee on Labour will conduct hearings for nominees to the Public Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Among the nominees is Mary Wanjira Kimonye, former Principal Secretary for the State Department for Public Service, who has been proposed as the new Vice-Chairperson of the PSC.
Six other nominees for commission member positions—Harun Maalim Hassan, Boya Molu, Irene Cherotich Asienga, Francis Otieno Owino, Joan Andisi Machayo, and Francis Meja—will also be vetted during the session.
Public Participation and Documentation Requirements
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Samuel Njoroge, has invited the public to participate in the vetting process. Citizens can submit sworn written statements contesting the suitability of any nominee by 5:00 p.m. on January 3, 2025. Submissions can be sent to the Clerk’s Office at Parliament Buildings or via email at cna@parliament.go.ke.
Nominees are required to present original identification documents, academic and professional certificates, and compliance certificates from various agencies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Kenya Revenue Authority, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
These rigorous vetting processes aim to ensure transparency and accountability in the appointment of key public officers.
