Letter returns to haunt Cabinet nominee Monica Juma

MPs on Tuesday took issue with a letter the nominee for secretary to the Cabinet, Ms Monica Juma, wrote complaining about their frequent visits to her office.

The Interior PS said the letter she wrote to House clerks was taken out of context.

Speaking during her vetting by the National Assembly's Committee on Security and National Administration on Tuesday, Ms Juma said at no time did she say that MPs should not visit her office.

“At no point did I say that MPs should not visit my office. I was only indicating the need to work within the law and framework of fair administration,” she said.

Ms Juma was nominated by President Kenyatta to replace Mr Francis Kimemia, who was sacked under a cloud of corruption allegations.

She also admitted she did not know the terrain at the time she got to the Interior office.

She said there was uneasiness about whether she was competent for the docket, which was deemed a “complex office”.

“I had to give confidence to everybody by writing the letter to ensure the right procedures were followed,” she said.

FREQUENT VISITS

However, MPs demanded an assurance about how she would handle the issues they raised since she was moving to a bigger office. The MPs said they are the people’s representatives.

In her letter, Ms Juma had complained about frequent visits by the lawmakers to her office to demand transfers, employment or requests for State workers to serve in certain stations.

“I wish to indicate that honouring such requests poses a huge challenge, is unsustainable and would in some cases constitute a breach of the Civil Service Code of Regulations, the provisions of the Constitution as well as policy frameworks,” she said in her letter dated October 24 last year.

It was copied to National Assembly Clerk Justin Bundi and Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye.

However, committee chairman Asman Kamama asked Ms Juma to state how she expected to get feedback from what wananchi were saying through their elected representatives if she snubbed and dismissing MPs.

“We are representatives of the people and we often visit government offices to forward complaints we have received from wananchi and we must be accorded that audience,” he said.

He cited cases where an MP had received complaints that a top police officer was extorting bribes from shopkeepers.

Ladgera MP Mohammed Shidiye alleged Ms Juma’s letter had stated that MPs should not go the Interior ministry as it was not a political bureau.