President William Ruto addresses the nation on July 19, 2024.
President William Ruto and Parliament have been facing mounting pressure over the vetting of new cabinet nominees.
This situation has stirred strong reactions among various groups, including clergymen and the general public, who are urging a thorough review of the candidates to ensure they are fit for their roles.
The controversy began when President Ruto nominated 11 individuals to his new cabinet, following the dissolution of 21 cabinet members, including the Attorney General.
This drastic reshuffling has caused significant unrest among Kenyans. Many believe that the new nominees may not be the best fit for the positions they have been selected for.
Leading the charge against the nominations are members of the clergy, who have expressed their disquiet about the process.
Rev. David Gikonyo, a prominent clergyman from the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), voiced his concerns using a biblical analogy.
He compared the process of selecting cabinet nominees to the construction of Solomon's temple, where stones were perfectly dressed in the quarry before being brought to the site for building.
He argued that the nominees are like stones that are not fully prepared, implying that they might not be capable of performing their roles effectively.
Rev. Gikonyo’s analogy highlights the need for careful preparation and scrutiny of the nominees before they assume their roles.
He urged members of Parliament to reject any candidates who do not meet the necessary standards, echoing the sentiments of many Kenyans who feel that the current nominees have not been adequately vetted.
The general public shares the clergy's concerns. There is a growing sentiment that the vetting process conducted by Parliament is superficial and does not delve deeply into the backgrounds of the nominees.
Many Kenyans fear that some of the nominees may have questionable pasts or lack the necessary qualifications and experience to perform their duties effectively.
This public discontent has been particularly palpable among the youth, often referred to as Gen-Z. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has made several appeals to this demographic, urging them to cease their protests and engage in dialogue.
However, these appeals have largely fallen on deaf ears, as many young people remain resolute in their dissatisfaction with the nominations and threaten to return to the streets to voice their displeasure.
Members of Parliament find themselves in a difficult position. On one hand, they are responsible for conducting a thorough vetting process to ensure that only the most qualified individuals are appointed to the cabinet.
On the other hand, they are acutely aware of the anger and frustration that exists among their constituents.
Mejjadonk Gathiru, MP for Embakasi Central, acknowledged this dilemma. He stated that he would not approve nominees who have shown arrogance or who have not demonstrated their suitability for their roles.
He also expressed concern about the palpable anger among the public, which makes it difficult for MPs to ignore the voices of their constituents.
Critics of the vetting process argue that it is often just a formality, with Parliament failing to conduct the in-depth investigations necessary to ensure that nominees are truly qualified.
They claim that this lack of rigorous scrutiny allows unqualified individuals to be appointed to important positions, which can have serious implications for the functioning of the government and the delivery of services to the public.
These critics call for a more transparent and thorough vetting process, where nominees are subjected to rigorous background checks and where their qualifications and past performances are closely examined.
They believe that this is the only way to restore public trust in the government and ensure that the most capable individuals are appointed to key positions.
In response to the growing unrest, Deputy President Gachagua has repeatedly appealed to the youth to stand down and engage in dialogue. He has emphasized that their voices have been heard and that the government is willing to listen to their concerns.
However, he has also warned against allowing the country to fall into the hands of those who may seek to exploit the situation for their own gain.
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