National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has come out to explain the move by the Committee on Appointments to reject the nomination of Gender Cabinet Secretary nominee Stella Soi Lang’at.
Speaking on the floor of the house on Wednesday, August 7, Ichung’wah said the nominee did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of the Gender docket.
He also said that Lang’at lacked the requisite abilities and qualities to be approved to lead the docket.
“That Ms. Stella Soi Lang’at did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the portfolio to which she had been nominated; and lacked the requisite abilities, and qualities to be approved for appointment to the office of Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, The Arts and Heritage,” said Ichung’wah.
While moving the motion, National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah clarified that her rejection was not in any way an indictment of her capability or competence to perform other responsibilities.
“It is only her suitability to hold the position of a cabinet secretary for Gender,” he said.
Ichung’wah said the president, in fact, has the prerogative to nominate her for any other position other than she had been nominated for.
He added that he (President William Ruto) also has a right to nominate another person from the region, area or village with the requisite experience to serve in the office.
The report, however, states that all the other nominees “demonstrated knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the portfolios to which they had been nominated”.
It says they had the requisite abilities, academic qualifications and professional experience to be approved for appointment.
The National Assembly Plenary will now decide whether to reject the vetting committee report or approve it as it is.
If the plenary adopts the report as it is, President William Ruto will have to nominate another person to the ministry.
The fresh nominee, should there be one, will still face the Committee on appointments for vetting and approval.
Soi was among the first batch of 20 Cabinet Secretary nominees vetted Thursday, last week.
The approved CS nominees were Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Debra Barasa (Health) Alice Wahome (Lands), Julius Migos Ogamba (Education), Soipan Tuya (Defence), Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture), Aden Duale (Environment), Eric Mugaa (Water), Davis Chirchir (Roads) and Margaret Ndung’u (ICT).
Others were John Mbadi (Treasury) Salim Mvurya (Trade), Rebecca Miano (Tourism), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Kipchumba Murkomen (Sports), Hassan Joho (Mining), Alfred Mutua (Labour), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives) and Justin Muturi (Public Service).
Langa’t’s fate now rests with the National As
