NAIROBI, Kenya – National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has scheduled a special sitting on Thursday, January 16, 2025, primarily to deliberate on the vetting report of three new cabinet secretary nominees.
This session follows a request from the Leader of the Majority in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah.
President William Ruto has nominated Mutahi Kagwe, Lee Kinyanjui, and William Kabogo to lead the Ministries of Agriculture, Trade, and ICT, respectively.
Their nominations, announced in a press release dated December 19, 2024, will undergo scrutiny by the Committee on Appointments on Tuesday next week, just before the special sitting.
In the official notice issued on January 8, Speaker Wetang’ula emphasized the significance of the upcoming session, stating, “Now therefore, it is hereby notified to all members of the National Assembly and the general public that Thursday, 16th January 2025 has been appointed as a day for special sittings of the National Assembly.”
The session will feature both morning and afternoon meetings.
Besides the vetting of the three cabinet secretary nominees, the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations is slated to present its report on the vetting of new High Commissioners, Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives, and a Consul-General.
Among the diplomatic appointees are former ICT CS Margaret Nyambura, nominated as Ambassador to Ghana, and her Agriculture counterpart, selected as Ambassador to Brazil.
Additionally, former Sports CS Ababu Namwamba is set to be vetted for his role as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UNEP/UNON, with Noor Gabow nominated as Consul-General to Haiti.
These vettings are scheduled for January 10.
The special sitting will also address other key appointments, including Mary Kimonye’s nomination as the new Vice Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, alongside seven other nominees, set for vetting on January 9.
Furthermore, the assembly will consider the report on the nominees for the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) leadership positions.
Additional legislative priorities include discussions on various bills, notably the Startup Bill (Senate Bill No. 14 of 2022) and the Persons with Disabilities Bill (Senate Bill No. 7 of 2023).
The assembly will also deliberate on the mediated version of the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (Senate Bill No. 19 of 2024), contingent on the conclusion of the mediation process.
