Kibaki to name Budget chief

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are from Monday expected to nominate candidates for controller of budget and auditor-general.

“The two are committed to execute their mandates within the deadlines of the Fifth Schedule as the country marks one year since the enactment of the new Constitution,” said a State House official who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity.

The two principals are also expected to break the deadlock over the appointment of a new attorney-general to replace the incumbent, Mr Amos Wako. (Read: After 20 years, Wako serves last days as Kenya's AG)

The chairperson of the panel that interviewed candidates for the post of auditor-general, Ms Carol Kigen, last week handed over the list of individuals to President Kibaki and Mr Odinga.

Once the nominees are identified, their names will be tabled in Parliament for vetting and approval before their appointment.

Choose one person

According to the law, the panel was supposed to forward names of three nominees for each position to the President and Prime Minister who, after consultation, will choose one person for each position.

Those who appeared before the panel seeking the post of auditor-general include Ms Sessi Mary Salome Nthenya, Mr Edward Ouko, Mr Humphrey Ogola Wanyama, Ms Muthoni Wangai and Mr Evans Inyangala Kaiga.

Front-runners for the post of controller of budget include Kenya Revenue Authority commissioner for domestic tax John Njiraini and Constituency Development Fund board chief executive Agnes Odhiambo.

Those being considered to succeed Mr Wako include law scholar Githu Muigai, former Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission deputy chairperson Betty Murungi, former Law Society of Kenya chairman Fred Ojiambo and the former director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Philip Murgor.

Besides these appointments, Parliament has until August 27 to pass more than 17 Bills as required by the Fifth Schedule of the new Constitution.

On Saturday, the Cabinet sat for a historic session to endorse five Bills — the Urban Areas and Cities Bill, the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Bill, the Kenya Citizens and Foreign Nationals Management Service Bill, the Public Financial Management Bill, and the Land and Environment Court Bill.

The Bills before Parliament include the Commission on Administration of Justice and the Salaries and Remuneration Bill, which the President returned to Parliament for correction of a constitutional anomaly.