Uhuru back to the drawing board as MPs reject Juma

President Uhuru Kenyatta will need a new nominee for the post of Secretary to the Cabinet after MPs backed a parliamentary committee’s decision to reject Dr Monica Juma Thursday.

A majority of MPs also rejected a bid by the government, through Majority Leader Aden Duale, to extend debate on Dr Juma’s nomination by an extra 10 days.

This means the President will present a new nominee for the powerful post to Parliament and Dr Juma will continue to serve as principal secretary (PS) in the Interior ministry.

Administration and National Security Committee chairman Asman Kamama had given notice on Wednesday of a motion seeking rejection of Dr Juma, terming her ‘‘arrogant and insensitive’’ to the needs of elected leaders.

READ: MPs vote to reject Juma for Secretary to Cabinet

The committee cited a letter Dr Juma had written to House clerks — complaining about the number of visits and requests MPs made for transfers or employment of State workers— as the main reason for her rejection.

Humphrey Njuguna, who seconded the motion, said Dr Juma has a good resume, but had problems with Articles 1, 2 and Chapter Six of the Constitution.

“When MPs go to her office, I am not going there as Njuguna, but to represent Gatanga people. We did our best. It is not easy to reject a presidential nominee. In all fairness, the white smoke could not come out. Every time we tried the black smoke came out,” he said.

In a dramatic debate that delayed the reading of the 2015/16 Budget highlights by the Treasury secretary Henry Rotich, 163 MPs rejected attempts to push by 10 days the approval of Dr Juma by the House. 

Some 55 MPs voted in support of the motion moved by Mr Duale. He drew the ire of MPs when he asked them not to be in a hurry.

“We have a constitutional right to speak, however how we have a minority voice,” he said, drawing jeers and boos from MPs.

All MPs from the Jubilee coalition in the Kamama-led committee signed the report rejecting Dr Juma, making her the first presidential nominee to be rejected, despite the ruling coalition enjoying a majority in the House.

Leader of Minority Francis Nyenze was shouted down when he praised Dr Juma’s qualifications.

Mr Kenyatta was expected to tilt the odds in his favour and have her approved like when Jubilee MPs passed Tourism secretary Phyllis Kandie’s nomination despite a vetting panel rejecting her nomination.

Dr Juma has previously served as Kenya’s ambassador to Ethiopia and Defence PS. The Kamama committee said she had failed to articulate her achievements in the Defence and Interior ministry dockets.

“There was a noticeable rise in insecurity during her tenure as PS interior. The nominee lacked demonstrable passion to serve the public and their elected leaders,” the committee said.