The parliamentary committee that vetted Cabinet Secretary nominees is divided over the suitability of five nominees.

Members of the committee largely drawn from Azimio La Umoja – One Kenya Coalition have raised reservations about former Meru Senator Mithika Linturi (Agriculture), Ms Penina Malonza (Tourism), Zacharia Njeru (Lands) , former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa (Public Service) and former Central Bank of Kenya Governor Njuguna Ndung’u who was nominated for the National Treasury and Planning docket.

A section of the members expressed the unsuitability of Mithika Linturi who has been nominated to head the Agriculture docket because when he appeared before the committee, he disclosed that he has 35 civil cases going on against him.

Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi questioned his suitability given that the position of Cabinet Secretary requires utmost concentration. He wondered how Mr Linturi will balance between dealing with the courts and working for Kenyans.

“He should clear his name first before we consider him for any nomination,” Mr Wanyonyi said during the vetting.

Penina Malonza who had been nominated to head the Tourism ministry found a hard time convincing members of the committee on her suitability. She was incoherent and could not articulate the issues she had been asked. Majority of the members agreed that she cannot represent Kenyans well with her inability to communicate.

On the other hand, Prof Njuguna Ndung’u was accused of presiding over a period when the Kenya Shilling lost its value against international currencies as Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). He had also been accused for siding with commercial banks enabling them make super normal profit to the detriment of Kenyans.

Zachariah Njeru whom President Ruto has nominated to the Land’s Ministry was found by a section of the vetting committee to lack pre-requisite knowledge and experience to run such a critical ministry.

As for Aisha Jumwa, some members say that she is simply incompetent and with her questionable educational background, she is not a suitable candidate for the position of CS Public Service and that the president should find someone else with the required skills and academic qualifications to run the ministry