US Raises Integrity Concerns as Vetting of William Ruto's CS Nominees Begins

 

Ambassador Meg Whitman and President William Ruto 

The United States of America has reacted to the planned vetting of President William Ruto's Cabinet secretary nominees. Ambassador Meg Whitman and President William Ruto when they attended the U.S. Kenya Business Roadshow in California. What the US said about the vetting of CS nominees From Thursday, August 1, the National Assembly's committee on appointment is expected to begin grilling the 21 CSs nominees. Ahead of the vetting, the US Embassy in Nairobi expressed it;s concerns regarding the entire exercise. In a message, the US reminded the National Assembly of the importance of having people with integrity holding public offices. "As Kenyans look ahead to the vetting of Cabinet nominees beginning today, we recognize the importance of integrity in public service and the National Assembly’s vital role in upholding Chapter Six of Kenya’s Constitution," the US embassy said. A section of Kenyans have also raised integrity issues on some of the nominees unveiled by the head of state. Why EACC wants Wycliffe Oparanya rejected In a related development, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) sought to object to the vetting and, by extension, the approval of former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya into the Cabinet. The president proposed that Oparanya heads the Co-operatives and MSMEs Development Ministry. But in a letter addressed to the clerk of the National Assembly, EACC's chief executive Twalib Mbarak asked the House to strike Oparanya out of the list of Cabinet nominees awaiting vetting.  Mbarak argued that a probe into Oparanya's conduct during his tenure at the Kakamega county headquarters proved he had graft cases to answer. The EACC chief executive officer disclosed that a report recommending Oparanya's prosecution had already been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). 

by  Amos Khaemba