Parliament saves Penina Malonza, approves all President Ruto's Cabinet picks

Parliament has voted to save the nomination of Penina Malonza as the Cabinet Secretary nominee for Tourism.

This is after the lawmakers voted to reject the unanimous recommendation of the vetting panel that asked the House to reject Ms Malonza.

Read: MPs reject Ruto's pick for Tourism Cabinet post

"The upshot of that vote is that you have negatived rejection of Penina Malonza,” Speaker Moses Wetangula ruled.

“I have approved a motion by Irene Kasalu (Kitui Woman Representative) to move a motion to approve the nomination of Ms Malonza."

MPs voted through acclamation to reject the recommendation of the Committee on Appointment (CoA) that unanimously rejected Ms Malonza as the Cabinet Secretary nominee for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage.

The MPs also approved the nomination of 22 other Cabinet Secretary nominees and Attorney General Justin Muturi for appointment by President William Ruto.

In rejecting the nomination of Ms Malonza as Cabinet secretary, the CoA had said the nominee did not demonstrate knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage.

Ms Malonza is the former Kitui Deputy Governor. She is also a former senior executive with Compassion International, a non-governmental organisation.

In a dissenting minority report, eight Azimio La Umoja One Kenya MPs rejected the nomination of Mithika Linturi (Agriculture) and Aisha Jumwa (Public Service, Gender & Affirmative Action) on integrity questions that are contrary to the provisions of Chapter Six of the Constitution.

The new Cabinet comprises:

1. Prof Kithure Kindiki- Interior
2. Prof Njuguna Ndungu- Treasury
3. Aden Duale- Defence
4. Aisha Jumwa- Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action 
5. Alice Wahome - Water and Sanitation, 
6. Dr Alfred Mutua- Foreign and Diaspora Affairs 
7. Moses Kuria- Trade 
8. Rebecca Miano- East African Community, Arid and Semi-arid Lands
9. Kipchumba Murkomen- Roads, Transport and Public Works 
10. Sopian Tuya- Environment and Forestry 
11. Zachariah Mwangi Njeru- Lands
12. Penina Malonza- Tourism
13. Mithika Linturi- Agriculture and Livestock 
14. Susan Nakhumicha- Health 
15. Eliud Owalo- ICT
16. Ezekiel Machogu- Education 
17. Davis Chirchir- Energy 
18. Ababu Namwamba- Sports and Youth Affairs 
19. Simon Chelugui- Co-operatives and SMEs
20. Salim Mvurya- Mining 
21. Florence Bore- Labour

Others are Musalia Mudavadi as prime cabinet secretary, Justin Muturi as the Attorney General and Mercy Wanjau as the secretary to the Cabinet

[email protected]