August 1, 2024 - President William Ruto's recent cabinet nominations have been under the spotlight as the appointees faced the National Assembly’s Appointments Committee at County Hall for vetting. Three key nominees shared insights and challenges during their respective sessions: Alice Wahome for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Kithure Kindiki for Interior, and Deborah Barasa for Health.
Alice Wahome, nominated for the Lands, Housing and Urban Development docket, highlighted the ministry's need for a substantial budget to digitize land records across the country. Wahome, who previously held the position before President Ruto's cabinet reshuffle on July 11, emphasized the importance of an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) to manage land title records efficiently.
“I want to be very honest with Parliament because I’m at the right place. We needed a better budget, a bigger budget to the tune of between Sh35 billion and Sh40 billion to be able to secure all our records under the digitization system,” Wahome stated.
The process, initiated in April 2019, is anticipated to take an additional five years to complete, provided sufficient budget allocation. Wahome asserted that digitizing land records would streamline processes, reduce transaction costs, and attract real estate investors by eliminating manipulation of manual records.
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Interior Cabinet Secretary nominee Kithure Kindiki addressed the critical issue of femicide and the existing security system gaps during his vetting. Kindiki highlighted the need for reforms to protect vulnerable populations, referencing the recent femicide incidents as a pressing concern.
“We have critical gaps, especially at the lower levels of our policing and security apparatus, the National Intelligence Service and the National Police Service and also NGAO,” Kindiki mentioned.
The alarming discovery of several female bodies in Mukuru slums, Nairobi, on July 10 underscored the urgency of these reforms. Kindiki committed to closing these gaps to prevent further breaches of women's security, recognizing the ongoing threat posed by intimate partners and family members.
Deborah Barasa, the Health Cabinet Secretary nominee, captivated the committee with her strategy to combat cartels within the health sector. Responding to questions from National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Barasa expressed her resolve to address corruption and inefficiency head-on.
“We can use a digital platform, open tenders and even independent bodies to monitor the tendering processes,” Barasa suggested, emphasizing a focus on prevention over treatment to seal procurement loopholes.
Speaker Moses Wetang'ula reinforced Barasa's stance, urging her to confront and eliminate the cartels rather than merely managing them. Barasa committed to upholding professionalism and integrity in her role, promising a zero-tolerance approach to corruption.
These vetting sessions have shed light on the significant challenges facing the nominees and their respective ministries. The focus on digitization, security reforms, and anti-corruption measures could signal transformative agenda for President Ruto's administration.
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