The U.S. Embassy on Thursday, August 1, ignited a heated debate on social media after issuing a statement ahead of the vetting of cabinet nominees by Parliament.
In the statement, the embassy emphasised the importance of integrity in public service and claimed that Parliament has a key role to play in upholding Chapter Six of the Kenyan Constitution, which provides for leadership and integrity.
“As Kenyans look ahead to the vetting of Cabinet nominees beginning today, we recognize the importance of integrity in public service and the National Assembly’s vital role in upholding Chapter Six of Kenya’s Constitution,” read the statement by the U.S. Embassy.
However, the statement did not go down well with a section of netizens who were quick to call out the American embassy.
A section of netizens called out the embassy to stop meddling with the country’s internal affairs as others wondered what its interest was.
Another section of online users claimed that the U.S. Embassy should not comment on integrity, alleging that it was not upholding it.
This message comes at a time when Hassan Ali Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya are on the spot over the legitimacy of their academic qualifications.
According to the Committee on Appointments’ Vetting Programme, the vetting process kicks off on Thursday with Internet and National Administration CS nominees Kithure Kindiki taking the hot seat.
Coming in next will be Debra Barasa and Alice Wahome who are nominated for the Health and Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development CS positions respectively.
Between 3PM and 5PM, the vetting committee will be grilling Julius Ogamba who was nominated to the Education ministry and Soipan Tuya of Defence.
On Friday, the committee will be vetting Andrew Karanja (Agriculture), Aden Duale (Environment, Climate Change and Forestry) and Eric Muuga (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation).
Davis Chirchir who was nominated to the ministry of Roads and Transport and Margaret Ndung’u who was nominated to the Ministry of Information, Community and Technology (ICT) docket will also face the vetting committee.
Come Saturday, the committee will kickoff their day by grilling National Treasury and Planning CS nominee John Mbadi followed by Salim Mvurya picked to head Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry if approved by Parliament.
Midday, Rebecca Miano who is nominated to the Tourism and Wildlife docket will be vetted followed by Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports).
On Sunday, which is the final day for the vetting process, Hassan Ali Joho (Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affars) will be on the other side of the committee followed by Alfred Mutua (Labour and Social Protection).
Between 12PM and 5PM, the committee will be grilling Wycliffe Oparanya, Justin Muturi and Stella Soi Lang’at of Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro small & medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development, Ministry of Public Service and Human Capital Development and Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage respectively.
