Kibaki nominates new Attorney General

President Kibaki has nominated Githu Muigai to be Kenya's next Attorney General.

A statement from the President's office said the nomination was done after consultations with Prime Minister Raila Odinga

If approved by Parliament, Prof Muigai will replace long serving AG Amos Wako in office since 1991.

Among those who were said to be under consideration for the AG post were: Prof Muigai, former Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission deputy chairperson Betty Murungi, former Law Society of Kenya chairman Fred Ojiambo and the former director of Public Prosecutions, Philip Murgor.

Earlier, President Kibaki and Mr Odinga had nominated Agnes Odhiambo and Edward Ouko as Controller of Budget and Auditor General respectively. (Read: Two nominated for budget, auditor jobs)

Ms Odhiambo was the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Board chief executive while Mr Ouko was the African Development Bank auditor general.

The Budget and Finance committees were given a two-day deadline to vet the nominees.

According to the Constitution, the Controller of Budget is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the budgets of the national and county governments by authorizing withdrawals from public funds.

The Constitution states that the Auditor-General shall be in office for an eight-year non-renewable term.

He is tasked with auditing and reporting on the accounts of the county and national governments.

According to the law, the interview panel was supposed to forward names of three nominees for each position to the President and Prime Minister who, after consultation, would choose one person for each position.

In January, President Kibaki released a list list of nominees for the positions of the Chief Justice, Attorney-General and the Director of Public Prosecution raising a furore.

He nominated Court of Appeal Judge Justice Alnashir Visram the next Chief Justice of Kenya to replace Chief Justice Evan Gicheru.

The President also named Prof Githu Muigai the next Attorney-General while lawyer Kioko Kilukumi was nominated the new Director of Public Prosecutions.

President Kibaki also picked former Agricultural Development Corporation managing director William Kirwa as Controller of Budget.

The move drew protests from Mr Odinga, MPs, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), civil society among others who said the President contravened the Constitution in making the nominations.

President Kibaki later withdrew the list and said that the process begins afresh.