Kenya’s Parliament is set to begin the vetting process for two Cabinet Secretary (CS) nominees, Geoffrey Ruku and Hanna Cheptumo, on April 14, 2025. The nominees were recently appointed as part of a Cabinet reshuffle by President William Ruto.
Geoffrey Ruku, the current Member of Parliament for Mbeere North, has been nominated for the position of CS for Public Service, a role vacated by Justin Muturi after tensions between him and President Ruto led to his dismissal. Ruku’s vetting session is scheduled for 2:00 pm, where he will present his qualifications and suitability for the role.
At 4:00 pm, Hanna Cheptumo will undergo her vetting for the Ministry of Gender, a position newly created under the Cabinet reshuffle. Cheptumo, the widow of the late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, who passed away last month, is now seeking to take on a leadership role in addressing gender issues in Kenya. Her late husband’s legacy in Baringo is still fresh, and her appointment adds a personal dimension to her public service aspirations.
The vetting process will be conducted by the Committee on Appointments, which will scrutinize the nominees’ qualifications, including academic certificates and compliance with various legal and regulatory bodies. These include clearance from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Higher Education Loans Board, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB), among others.
The public is encouraged to participate in the vetting process by submitting written comments or objections to the suitability of the nominees. These comments must be submitted by April 10, 2025, at 5:00 pm, and must be accompanied by supporting evidence.
The Committee on Appointments will then compile its findings and report them to the National Assembly. As the country anticipates the final approval, the outcome of the vetting process will be crucial in determining the leadership of two significant government ministries.
