Nkaissery unfit for office, says group

What you need to know:

  • “The report accused Maj-Gen Nkaissery of transporting cattle confiscated from the Pokots using Kenya Army lorries and selling them contrary to the law,” Mr Otieno said.
  • The group is now calling on Parliament not to approve Maj-Gen Nkaissery for the position. “Mr Nkaissery is unfit to hold office and we will go to court to block his swearing in if Parliament approves the nomination,” he said.

A lobby group is against the nomination of Major-General (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery for the post of Interior Cabinet Secretary, citing alleged past violations of human rights.

The group, Commission for Constitutional Implementation (CCI), says Maj-Gen Nkaissery was adversely mentioned in the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation (TJRC) report, making him unfit for office.

CCI official Cidi Otieno noted that TJRC forwarded his name to the Director of Public Prosecutions for allegedly spearheading a disarmament exercise that led to the deaths of civilians in what came to be known as the “Lotiriri Massacre”. Also during the exercise in West Pokot in 1984, over 20,000 animals starved to death, the report said.

“The report accused Maj-Gen Nkaissery of transporting cattle confiscated from the Pokots using Kenya Army lorries and selling them contrary to the law,” Mr Otieno said.

UNFIT FOR OFFICE

The group is now calling on Parliament not to approve Maj-Gen Nkaissery for the position. “Mr Nkaissery is unfit to hold office and we will go to court to block his swearing in if Parliament approves the nomination,” he said.

President Kenyatta picked the Kajiado Central MP for the post hoping he will fix Kenya’s security problems that have seen hundreds fall to terrorists.

In the National Assembly, Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo questioned the legality of Maj-Gen Nkaissery’s nomination given he is still a serving MP.

“Mr Nkaissery should have tabled his resignation by now,” he said.

Cabinet Secretaries cannot be appointed from among serving MPs, according to the Constitution.