Land commission nominees face MPs’ vetting

Parliament is to vet the chairperson and eight members appointed to the National Land Commission as it emerged that the Office of the President and that of the Prime Minister are locked in a dispute over a nominee.

President Kibaki has appointed Mr Muhammad Swazuri to chair the commission while Dr Tomiik Konyimbih, Dr Rose Musyoka and Dr Samuel Kipngetich Tororei will serve as members.

Other members are Mr Silas Kinoti Muriithi, Ms Abigael Mbagaya, Ms Emma Muthoni Njogu, Mr Clement Isiah Lenachuru and Mr Abdulhkadir Adan Khalif.

Speaker Kenneth Marende said he had received a letter from the Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Francis Kimemia, dated July 4, 2012 indicating that the President, in consultation with Prime Minister Raila Odinga had nominated the nine for the positions.

But Mr Marende added that he had subsequently received two letters, one from Mr Kimemia’s office purporting to replace one of the nominees and the other from the office of the Prime Minister dated July 13, 2012 contesting the replacement.

Mr Marende did not reveal the name of the nominee in question and directed that the two letters be referred to the Committee on Lands and Natural Resources chaired by Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi for consideration.

The National Assembly is required to approve or reject any or all of them within 21 days of the day it next sits after receipts of names.

Mr Marende directed the House to consider the nominees and report to Parliament on or before August 14, 2012.

Mr Kimemia is said to be uncomfortable with the nomination of Mr Abdulhkadir Adan Khalif whom he wants replaced with a Mr Mohammed AW.

The reported contest between Mr Kimemia and the Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s office, Mohammed Isakhia, could derail efforts to establish a functional commission to oversee land matters in Kenya.

The government has since suspended all land transactions until the land commission comes into force.

This is the second time that the Office of the President and that of the Prime Minister have presented two different lists of nominees.

The two offices tussled over nominees to the National Police Service Commission, with Mr Odinga saying he was not consulted over the appointment of Ms Amina Mosoud as chairperson.

Parliament continues to debate the report of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security that rejected the appointment of Ms Mosoud.

The committee recommended that Ms Mosoud should not be approved for nomination as the chairperson of the commission.