HEZRON NJOROGE | NATION PNU members from left Joseph Kiuna, George Nyamweya and Peter Kiilu arrive at a Nairobi hotel on February 15, 2011.
By PETER LEFTIE pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.com and By LUCAS BARASA lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Tuesday, February 15 2011 at 21:00
In Summary
- The list of names will be approved without any changes, says nominated MP Maison Leshomo
The coalition parties on Tuesday intensified their lobbying over the controversial nominations with PNU backed by ODM rebels pushing for the appointments’ approval as ODM pushed for their rejection.
MPs allied to PNU Alliance and Eldoret North MP William Ruto resolved to push for the approval of President Kibaki’s nominees for constitutional offices.
The 40-plus MPs, who met over lunch at Panafric hotel vowed to use their numbers to have Parliament approve the nominees for the positions of Chief Justice, Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
It was not immediately clear whether the strategy also entailed pushing for the approval the nomination of William Kirwa as Controller of Budget.
A section of MPs allied to Mr Ruto led by Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny have openly opposed Mr Kirwa’s nomination on grounds that he faces corruption allegations before a parliamentary watchdog committee.
The Trade, Finance and Planning Committee that is perusing Mr Kirwa’s nomination is reported to have taken a similar position.
“We want the President’s nominations to sail through because we believe they are constitutional. We want the committees to do the vetting so that we approve whatever report they bring to us,” Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka said.
“Since we have the majority, what is there to stop us?” Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi was overheard telling a colleague after the meeting, even as nominated MP Maison Leshomo declared:
“Hayo majina yataenda vile yalivyo (The list of names will be approved without any changes).”
ODM on other hand lobbied its MPs to reject the nominees to four key constitutional offices ahead of Speaker Kenneth Marende’s expected ruling in Parliament.
The party said the nominees were meant to persuade the UN Security Council to accept efforts for the deferment of Kenya’s post-election violence case by the International Criminal Court yet the appointments “were done by suspects themselves...
“If the suspects appoint their own CJ, AG, prosecutor and investigator then say they have appointed a tribunal, who will accept?” Immigration and Registrar of Persons Minister Otieno Kajwang’ said after a parliamentary group meeting.
The PG chaired by ODM deputy treasurer Mohamed Mahamud, who is also an assistant minister for Energy, at Orange House was attended by 56 MPs who vowed to block the appointments in Parliament.
The MPs aid Mr Marende should rule that the nominations were unconstitutional.
“We are, however, ready for any eventuality. Kenyans are with us. The law is on our side,” Mr Mahamud said.
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