Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday evening August 7, 2024, agreed with the recommendations of the Parliament Committee on Appointments to reject the nomination of Stella Soi Langat for the position of Gender Cabinet Secretary (CS).
The committee submitted its report before the House paving the way for MPs to vote on all the 20 cabinet nominees.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Watang’ula reading the committee’s recommendations asked the House to vote ‘I’ if they approved the 19 CSs or ‘Ney’ if they disproved.
“Having called all those 19 names I put the question as many of that opinion say ‘I’,” Wetang’ula asked MPs who erupted in a chorus to approve the cabinet nominees.
“With those of the contrary opinion say ‘Ney’,” the Speaker said amid silence from MPs signalling the approval of the 19.
“The ‘Ies’ have it,” the Speaker stated.
Wetang’ula then asked the House to approve or reject the committee’s recommendation on the nomination of Stella Langat.
“Reject the appointment of Stella Soi Langat as the cabinet secretary Ministry of Gender Arts, Culture and Heritage. As many of that opinion say ‘I’?” The Speaker asked the MPs.
The majority of the lawmakers shouted ‘I’.
“Will those of the contrary opinion say ‘Ney’? ” Wetang’ula posed.
“Ney,” some MPs shouted.
“The ‘Ies’ have it,” Wetang’ula declared.
However, some MPs disputed the verbal poll claiming there were as many ‘Ies’ as there were ‘Neys’.
The Speaker intervened and asserted that the majority of the MPs voted to reject the nomination of Stella Langat as CS Gender.
“Order, it is clear there are no numbers to claim a division,” Wetang’ula ruled.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah earlier announced the approval of the 19 after the conclusion of the vetting process for 20 individuals on Sunday, August 4, 2024.
“Honourable Speaker, I beg to lay the following paper on the table of the House today, August 7, 2024, the second report of the Committee of Appointments on the vetting of persons for appointment to the Offices of Secretaries volumes 1, 2, 3A and 3B,” Ichung’wah stated.
However, the committee rejected the nomination of Stella Soi Langat for the position of Gender Cabinet Secretary and the House ultimately upheld the recommendation through a vote.