Azimio allied MPs expressed reservations about the nomination of five members to the Cabinet, including Mithika Linturi and Penina Malonza
The committee members doubted Linturi’s suitability to head Agriculture Ministry due to the cases in court against him
The MPs reportedly agreed that Malonza nominated to the Tourism Ministry, could not be the face of Kenya
The 15-member National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments is racing against time to table its report on the vetting of 24 Cabinet members nominated by President William Ruto.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary nominee Aisha Jumwa during vetting. Photo: National Assembly.
As the deadline, Thursday, October 27, draws near, it has emerged that the committee chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has differed on the suitability of five nominees.
Committee members allied to the Azimio la Umoja expressed reservations about the nomination of former Meru Senator Mithika Linturi nominated to head the Agriculture Ministry, Penina Malonza (Tourism) and Zacharia Njeru of Lands.
Others are former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, who has been nominated to head Public Service and former Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Njuguna Ndung’u, nominated for the National Treasury.
A source intimated to Nation said the Azimio lawmakers asked Ruto to nominate other ‘suitable’ candidates to the aforementioned dockets.
“These nominees are not suitable to serve in the positions we vetted them for. If the committee will not agree with our view, we shall definitely draft our minority report,” the member said.
Reasons for rejection
It is said that the members dismissed Linturi’s suitability due to the cases in court against him.
While appearing before the vetting panel, the Agriculture nominee said he currently faces 35 civic cases.
Weighing in on the revelation, Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi wondered where Linturi will get the time to work given the many court cases he has to deal with.
Further, a majority of the committee members reportedly agreed that Malonza (Tourism) could not be the face of Kenya, considering how she performed during vetting.
A member said Malonza is timid and lacks coherence. During vetting, the member noted that the nominee was not articulate in her answers.
Ngungu (Treasury) was blamed for overseeing the free fall of the Kenyan shillings during his helm at the Central Bank.
In 2012, he was accused of colliding with commercial banks to make what was described as abnormal profits, an allegation he denied before the vetting panel.
Mithika Linturi fails to produce his Indian degree
As earlier reported, Linturi failed to produce his degree from an Indian university during his vetting.
Linturi, a trained lawyer told the committee that he could not produce the Indian degree as it was in court.
“It is true that I have an Indian university degree and the documents to support that. This matter has conversed in three court cases, and I will not be able to mention that,” said Linturi.
