House team to start vetting UhuRuto list on Thursday.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. Photo PPS

The Committee on Appointments is prepared to work overtime to beat the constitutional deadline of approving or rejecting President Uhuru’s nominees to the Cabinet.

Leader of the Majority Party Aden Duale said the committee, though faced with a tight schedule and time constraint, is committed to completing its work in time.

“We are meeting on Monday (today) to prepare the rules. Vetting will, however, begin on Thursday,” he pointed out.

He noted that they would also have another meeting on Wednesday to collect and collate what the public has communicated to Parliament on their perception of individual nominees.

Private venue

“Vetting will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, we will meet at a private venue to prepare the report. We will confirm the report on Monday,” Duale explained.

Unlike before, Parliament has a key role in vetting appointees to the Cabinet.

The public also has an opportunity to submit memoranda to the committee in case they have any objections to any of the nominations.

Duale said he would table the report of his committee on Tuesday (May 14) for debate by members.

“I am hoping that by the end of the session we will have approved or partially approved the list,” Duale stated.

He also noted that Thursday (May 16) would be the last day to dispose of the matter.

“If we will not have finished the work, it will be assumed that Parliament approved the names and President Uhuru will then go ahead and confirm the appointments,” he explained.

If Parliament votes to reject even one of the nominees, the Motion will be lost and Uhuru and Ruto will have to go back to the drawing board to replace those rejected.

If Parliament approves the list as presented by the committee, Uhuru only have to formally appoint the Cabinet.

The House Business Committee last month picked 28 members to the key committee that will vet Cabinet Secretaries nominees.

The committee consists of Speaker of National Assembly Justin B Muturi as the e chair, Joyce Laboso, MP — Deputy Speaker, Duale (Leader of the Majority Party), Francis Nyenze (Leader of the Minority Party), Naomi Shaban (Deputy Leader of the Majority Party) and Jakoyo Midiwo (Deputy Leader of the Minority Party).

Other members of the committee include members ofParliament from the Majority and Minority parties.

The Jubilee coalition has 12 MPs in the Appointment Committee while the CORD coalition has eight.Butere MP Andrew Toboso earlier said CORD was ready to scrutinise those nominated for appointment.