New CSs can now be sworn into office

President Uhuru Kenyatta can now formally appoint seven new Cabinet secretaries, who will then be sworn into office, after the National Assembly on Wednesday approved their nomination.  

Debate was dominated by complaints about the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

MPs are angry with the commission after it highlighted National Assembly loopholes that have enabled them take millions of taxpayers’ money fraudulently.

The committee that vetted the Cabinet secretaries summoned the commission’s chief executive Halakhe Waqo after his team issued conflicting positions on Mr Dan Kazungu, set to be Mining Cabinet secretary.

“You cannot clear someone in 2002, clear the same person in 2007, clear him in 2013 when he ran for governor and then when he is appointed by the President you pull out an old case and say he had a case,” said Majority Leader Aden Duale.

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Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo said the anti-corruption commission report had portrayed Parliament and its occupants as an irredeemably corrupt lot.

“We must sit down and talk about the issues bedevilling this assembly and Parliament. There are issues. Kenyans think we are corrupt,” he added.

He asked Speaker Justin Muturi, who invited the commission to scrutinise Parliament’s systems, to have an informal meeting so that the concerns are discussed honestly and plainly.

Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo (ODM) said the meeting should be held in January to discuss issues raised in the report.

“We only scratched the surface,” said Ms Odhiambo.

Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Chairman Samuel Chepkong’a said the team would in January summon the anti-corruption commission “because they are making serious allegations against members”.

Mr Richard Tong’i (Nyaribari Chache, Ford-People) said the EACC appeared to have acted in bad faith when it raided the homes of individuals linked to the loss of money at the National Youth Service.