Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga allies have been criticizing the proposed names for consideration into President William Ruto’s cabinet.
The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party has in the recent past claimed that almost half of the 22-member team proposed by the president to fill up vacancies in the Kenya Kwanza Cabinet were facing criminal charges.
Among those with pending, active cases include former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa and former Meru Senator Mithika Linturi. Jumwa was nominated to the Public Service and Gender docket.
Jumwa is accused of conspiracy to commit fraud through payment of KSh 19 million to Multiserve contractors with respect to tender number MLD/NG-CDF/01/2017/2018 of Malindi NG-CDF.
However, on Wednesday, October 12, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) announced that it had withdrawn graft charges against her.
Jumwa who was facing charges of conspiring to commit fraud by illegally paying KSh19 million had her charges withdrawn under section 87 (a) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
The prosecution through state counsel Alex Akula informed Mombasa Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku that he had instructions to withdraw charges against Aisha Jumwa.
“I have instructions to move the court with an application on review of charges and that is specified on the first accused person the final directive is to have her name removed and the case against eight suspects who had been charged alongside Jumwa to proceed,” Akula said as quoted by the People Daily.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula last week directed that the Committee on Appointments, which will vet the nominees, be set up by Tuesday, October 11.
Parliament has until November 3 to vet the Cabinet nominees, paving the way for their appointment by the President.
At the conclusion of an approval hearing, the committee will prepare its report on the suitability of the candidate to be appointed to the office to which the candidate has been nominated.
