The parliamentary committee said it was satisfied that Lenku was qualified to head the Interior and Coordination of National Government ministry while Kambi was suitable for the Labour, Social Security and Services docket/CFM
This follows approval of the two by the House Select Committee on Appointments which convinced Parliament to adopt its report.
The parliamentary committee said it was satisfied that Lenku was qualified to head the Interior and Coordination of National Government ministry while Kambi was suitable for the Labour, Social Security and Services docket.
Lenku will oversee the national government’s presence in counties, internal state functions and disaster management as well as numerous other commissions, immigration, registration of persons, refugees and several parastatals.
Leader of the Majority Coalition in Parliament Aden Duale supported the committee’s report saying Lenku was best suited to handle the country’s security matters.
Duale said Lenku’s first assignment should be to bring an amendment to the House to distinguish the duties and roles of the Inspector General of Police and the National Police Service Commission.
He said the law should be amended to end conflict involving the two offices.
Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati offered the only dissenting contribution during the two-hour debate which was dominated by MPs offering appreciation messages to President Uhuru Kenyatta for picking Lenku.
Arati said that Lenku was not qualified for the job. “We cannot have a conductor jumping onto a pilot seat. We will have failed completely,” he objected.
MPs contributing in the debate also lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto for nominating the two.
In persuading MPs to support the nominations, Minority Leader Francis Nyenze who tabled the report said members of the select committee examined academic qualifications, employment record, professional affiliation, potential conflict of interest, tax compliance, knowledge of the relevant subject and overall suitability for the position.
Nyenze said Lenku managed to transform Utalii Hotel which was previously dependant on government funding to a profitable venture.
Lenku faces the task of taming insecurity that has flared up in several parts of Kenya as well as the conflict between the Inspector General and the National Police Service Commission.
On Kambi’s nomination, Nyenze said he served as an MP for Kaloleni for five years during which he oversaw major development milestones in the constituency.
He noted that Kambi also served as an assistant minister in the ministry of Medical Services and represented the country in various capacities both nationally and internationally.
“During his tenure as assistant minister, he facilitated the delivery of government services and addressed issues of concern in the ministry,” the committee’s report said.
The report further noted that Kambi has never been charged in a court of law, has no potential conflict of interest and has also fully complied with his tax obligations.
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