MPs vote to reject Juma for Secretary to Cabinet

Members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday afternoon voted to reject the president's nomination of Dr Monica Kathena Juma for appointment as the Secretary to the Cabinet.

In a dramatic debate that delayed the reading of the 2015/16 budget highlights, 163 MPs rejected attempts to push by ten days the approval of Dr Juma by the House. Some 55 MPs voted in support of the motion moved by Majority leader Aden Duale.

The MPs subsequently took another vote through acclamation to adopt the rejection of Dr Juma as the next Secretary to the Cabinet.

“The committee recommends that National Assembly rejects the nomination of Dr Monica Juma for appointment as Secretary to the Cabinet,” Asman Kamama, the committee chairman said.

Humprey Njuguna, who seconded the motion, said Dr Juma had an impressive CV 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 Hon 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.

Mr Duale tried to push amendments to the report but MPs shouted him down, further drawing the ire of MPs when he asked them not to rush through the motion.

“We have a constitutional right to speak,” he said as the move drew jeers and boos from MPs.

His contribution was drowned by voices of chanting MPs, prompting him to cut short his speech.

Jamleck Kamau (MP for Kigumo), who seconded Mr Duale's motion, faced hostility from MPs when he proposed that the House gives MPs enough time to look at the report of the committee that rejected Dr Juma.

Speaker Justin Muturi reminded the MPs that they amended the Public Appointment (Parliamentary Approval) Act to provide extension of the period of vetting a nominee for appointment.

“Period may be extended by not more than 14 days through a resolution of the House. I therefore propose the question,” he said amid MPs' opposition.

The committee rejected the nomination of Juma because of a letter she wrote complaining of MPs’ frequent visits to her office. The committee in its report to the House termed Dr Juma as “arrogant and insensitive to needs of elected leaders.”

“It contravenes the spirit of Article 1 of the Constitution, which provides that sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and shall be exercised only in accordance to this Constitution,” noted the committee.

“By denying elected representatives access to a public office, the nominee is denying Kenyans a chance to exercise their sovereign authority in breach of Article 2(1) of the Constitution.”

Dr Juma had in October 2014 written to the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) requesting that MPs and Senators be informed about the challenge of honouring employment and transfer requests since it constituted a breach of the Civil Service code of regulation.

“In light of this, I request that you kindly inform MPs and Senators about this challenge and reassure them that the management of the Ministry of Interior is committed to observe the procedures and fair administrative action as it relates to all staff within the confines of law and laid down criteria,” her letter read.

The committee, however, said the letter was in bad taste.

“Although the nominee has good academic credentials, she lacked a practical approach in dealing with the public and elected representatives. She displayed arrogance and insensitivity to the needs and concerns of the public and their elected leaders,” the committee said.

“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,” it added.