The Kenyan National Assembly has voted against Interior PS Monica Juma’s (above) nomination as Secretary to the Cabinet.
Juma’s nomination was was rejected by 163 MPs and supported by 55, Speaker Justin Muturi concluded on Thursday following shouting matches by MPs.
National Assembly Security Committee chairman Asman Kamama said Juma lacked the practicality to resolve issues.
“She displayed arrogance and insensitivity to the needs and concerns of the public and their elected leaders,” he said.
Minority leader Francis Nyenze said MPs were not trying to tarnish Juma’s name concerning a letter she allegedly wrote asking them to keep off her office.
“If she is very qualified why should we tarnish her name? She has received more than ten awards. Juma has a PhD from Oxford. Let us not turn this into a Kangaroo house,” he said.
“The white smoke refused to come out. Every time we tried the dark smoke came out”.
Majority Leader Aden Duale had proposed a 10-day extension for Juma’s consideration for the post.
Duale asked MPs not be in a hurry to make crucial decisions saying administrative action requires lawful and efficient procedures.
He earlier said he was preparing amendments to the National Assembly Committee on Appointments report that would enable the Interior PSs approval.
A parliamentary committee rejected Juma’s nomination on Wednesday, citing high levels of disrespect against MPs.
She was nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 17, 2015, to replace Francis Kimemia, who was suspended, and later sacked, over allegations of corruption in the list of 175 individuals presented to Parliament by the President on March 26 2015.
– See more at: The Star
