MPs protest nominations to key posts

Four MPs have protested the nominations to three senior government positions made by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Tuesday.

But even as they did so, a House committee approved the nominee for the post of Controller of Budget after a vetting session at Continental House, Nairobi.

The MPs said the apparent horse-trading by the two principals eventually works to the disadvantage of Kenyans and sets a bad precedent for the filling of positions in government.

They also criticized the fact that the interviews by the panel that nominated the Controller of Budget and the Auditor General were not carried out in the public.

“These appointments are a betrayal to Kenyans. It’s the worst thing ever done to Kenyans by the two principals. Kenya does not belong to the two of them,” said Belgut MP Charles Keter.

He led his colleagues Calist Mwatela (Mwatate, ODM), Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa, PNU) and Benjamin Lang’at (Ainamoi, ODM) in demanding that the lists of all who had been interviewed for the positions be given to Parliament.

Agnes Nangila Odhiambo was nominated as Controller of Budget and Edward R. Ouko as Auditor-General, with the relevant Parliamentary committees vetting them yesterday. Prof Githu Muigai was nominated as Attorney General.

According to Mr Keter, the MPs are unhappy with the appointing authorities and have no questions about the qualifications of the nominees.

Mr Kioni said the horse-trading that has become common whenever the two principals are making appointments would have people locked out for the wrong reasons.

“When you replace competence and merit with horse-trading, the sufferers will be Kenya. Even if we are talking about regional balance, what balancing is there?” Mr Kioni posed.

Mr Lang’at said other communities would feel locked out of key government positions and qualified people would fail to apply due to fears that they would be locked out.

“What happens to other communities? Should they continue to apply for these jobs or should we tell them to stop because they are from the wrong region?” he asked.

He said Parliament would need to send the names back so that the selection process is started afresh.

Mr Kioni alleged that the process of appointing people to key positions had been influenced by the ideals espoused by members of civil society groups.

“We cannot keep taking what the civil society is giving us and swallowing it. We have swallowed it and it is now giving us constipation,” said Mr Kioni. 

At Continental House, the committee endorsed her after a public vetting of her professional, academic and personal life.

Committee chairman Elias Mbau said his team will submit a report to the Speaker of the National Assembly Thursday in preparation for a debate on the nomination on the floor of the House.

“It is the entire House that will have the final say on the nomination, but members of this committee have expressed unanimous support,” said Mr Mbau soon after the vetting procedure.

Ms Odhiambo, who has been at the helm of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Board said that her expertise in managing the fund would be critical in the new office if she was finally cleared.

“Success in managing the CDF for the last couple of years has been instrumental and I strongly believe that the values I have learnt would help greatly as the Controller of Budget,” she said.

Ms Odhiambo appeared confident that she had clinched the job that will see her wield massive control on withdrawal of funds by both the national and county governments in the new dispensation.

“My academic qualification speaks volumes,” she said, telling the MPs that she would heavily borrow from the experience she has learnt in the financial management in various private industries before ending up in the public service.

Article 288 of the Constitution has bestowed the powers on the Controller of Budget that no government withdrawal shall be made unless it is within the law.

If approved by the House, Ms Odhiambo will be the first holder of the office for a period of eight years.

She will be responsible for the final approval to withdraw any revenue funds for counties, equalisation and consolidated funds.

Ms Odhiambo shall also provide quarterly reports to Parliament on how money is being spent by the both the national and county governments.