Vetting of PS nominees to continue after Court ruling
The High Court in Nairobi has allowed the National Assembly to continue with the vetting of 51 principal secretary nominees after the court struck out three petitions challenging them.
In a ruling made earlier today, Justice Nduma Nderi said the three petitions were filed prematurely.
“The preliminary objections by the Attorney General, the National Assembly, and the Public Service Commission succeed only to the extent that the petitioners consolidated petitions are struck out for having been filed prematurely, “he ruled.
While dismissing the petitions, Justice Nduma said that the court will be called upon to review the matter after the conclusion of the vetting process.
“This court will only be called upon the conclusion of the vetting process by the National Assembly. This is a sacred mandate given by Parliament House by the people of Kenya and the court must play differently in the House in that respect.” Nderi said.
Two weeks ago, Justice Nzioki Wa Makau issued a conservatory order stopping the vetting that was already underway in Parliament.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula stopped the vetting of PS nominees on November 16th in compliance with a November 15 court order.
More than 20 PS nominees, including Raymond Omollo (Interior), Julius Korir (Cabinet Affairs), Julius Bitok, Dr. Josephine Mburu (Health Standards), Chris Kiptoo (National Treasury),and Patrick Mariro (Defence) were among those who had been vetted by MPs before the exercise was suspended.
Before the suspension, the vetting was to take place between November 14 and November 18.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) filed a petition seeking to stop the process.LSK argued that President Ruto did not factor in regional balance and gender equity.
According to the association, the provision of a two-thirds gender rule, persons living with disabilities, and the youth was also not considered in the process of the nomination.
BY STACY EDITH.
Tags: Moses Wetangula Lsk Principal Secretaries
