Joseph Nkaissery cleared for security docket

What you need to know:

  • The matter came up for consideration in the House following a chaotic session on the deliberation of the Security Bill.
  • President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated Mr Nkaissery for the position to replace Mr Joseph Ole Lenku in the sensitive docket.

Maj (rtd) Joseph Nkaissery inched closer to being appointed Interior Cabinet Secretary after the National Assembly endorsed his nomination on Thursday.

Some 222 out of the 235 members present at the afternoon’s special sitting voted to support the recommendation by House Administration and National Security committee which approved Mr Nkaissery.

The members immediately broke into song chanting a pro-Nkaissery slogan.

Interestingly, Cord MPs had shouted a resounding ‘Nay’ when the question for the approval of the nomination was put to the floor, only for them to overwhelmingly vote for him when a division was called.

The voting was apparently part of Cord’s strategy to delay the proceedings of the House.

The matter came up for consideration in the House following a chaotic session on the deliberation of the Security Bill.

The committee which vetted the Kajiado Central MP cleared him for appointment saying he had demonstrated impressive knowledge on matters of security and declared him suitable for the position.

President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated Mr Nkaissery for the position to replace Mr Joseph Ole Lenku in the sensitive docket.

Parliament has to vet and approve the nominee in line.

During his vetting, the nominee said he supported deletion of clauses in the Security Laws Bill that infringe on human rights.

He said the law provides for security of tenure for the chiefs of intelligence and police and that he supports amendments to give the President powers to hire and fire them.