House approves cohesion team list
Justice and Legal Affairs committee chairperson Samuel Chepkonga at County Hall on July 3, 2014. Mr Samuel Chepkonga, said the provisions of the Bill bordered on “excess activism” and “clash with other laws”. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | FILE
What you need to know:
- The agency has been operating without commissioners for the past nine months.
- Some MPs appeared to be touting the appointment of the former Speaker to the position of chairperson of the agency.
MPs on Wednesday adopted a report on nominees to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, paving the way for their appointment.
Names of the 15, who include former National Assembly Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo, will now be forwarded to President Kenyatta.
The president will however, pick only eight among them for appointment to the positions of commissioner in the team mandated to promote peaceful coexistence.
Mwingi North MP Makali Mulu said the National Assembly committee should have recommended trimming the number of commissioners to between three and five to reduce the public wage bill. The agency has been operating without commissioners for the past nine months.
Some MPs appeared to be touting the appointment of the former Speaker to the position of chairperson of the agency.
Deputy Minority Leader Chris Wamalwa, however, said, the president should consider the youngest nominee, 37-year old Belinda Akoth Ochiel for the position of chairperson.
She was among the nominees who scored high marks in the parliamentary committee’s ranking after interviews that edged out 17 out of the 32 candidates shortlisted.
Justice committee chairperson Samuel Chepkonga moved debate on the report which he tabled before the House last week after two days of interviews.
The 15 nominees include former vice chairperson of the commission Milly Lwanga and former commissioner Alice Wairimu Nderitu.
Others are former MP Morris Dzoro, Ms Rose Macharia Mghoi, Dr Roba Sharamo, Ms Anne Munyiva Kyalo, Ms Irene Njeri Wanyoike, Mr Adan Abdi Mohamed, Ms Alasa Osman Hirisi, Mr Eric Oluoch Ogwang, Ms Belinda Akoth Ochiel, Ms Irene Masit, Dr Joseph Wamocha Nasongo and Prof Gitile Naituli.
