NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has suffered a significant blow after the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments rejected the appointment of his Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary nominee Stella Soi Lang’at.
The announcement was made by Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah, who doubles as the National Assembly Majority Leader.
Y News has gathered that the Committee on Appointments and Vetting of Persons for the Office of Cabinet Secretaries approved the appointment of 19 other persons nominated by the head of state.
“Taking into consideration the findings of the Committee on Appointments and Vetting of Persons for the appointment of the offices of Cabinet Secretaries laid on the table of the House today, Wednesday, August 7, 2024, and under the provisions of Article 152 (2) of the Constitution and section 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments, Parliamentary Approval Act of 2011, this House approves the appointments of 19 persons as Cabinet Secretaries. The committee rejects Stellah Soi Lang’at’s appointment,” Ichung’wah said.
Who are the approved nominated Cabinet Secretaries
Cabinet Secretaries who have the committee’s nods include Kithure Kindiki (interior), Deborah Barasa (Health), Alice Wahome (Land), Julius Ogamba (Education), Soipan Tuya (Defence), Andrew Karanja (Agriculture), Aden Duale (Environment), Eric Muuga (Water), Davis Chirchir (Transport), and Margaret Ndung’u (ICT).
Others include John Mbadi (Treasury), Salim Mvurya (Trade), Rebecca Miano (Tourism), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Kipchumba Murkomen (Sports), Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), Alfred Mutua (Labour), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs), and Justin Muturi (Public Service).
Y News understands that on August 4, 2024, Lang’at appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments for vetting.
She said that her 29 years of experience had made her resilient and qualified to serve in the Ministry of Gender.
What Stella Soi Lang’at told the vetting committee
Lang’at stated before the Committee on Appointments that she has worked in multiple ministries to develop a career in public administration.
She claimed to have worked for the central government for 29 years as a public servant.
Lang’at was part of the team that established the State Department of Gender in 2004 and served in several ministries, including the Labour Department and the State Department of Public Service.
“Those experiences have assisted me in building resilience and also interacting with the environment where Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is rampant and where interventions are required to strengthen the fight against GBV,” she said.
Parliament will now decide whether to accept the committee’s proposal or deem Lang’at qualified for appointment.
