National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang’ula has halted the ongoing vetting of Principal Secretaries nominees.
“Following the granting of Conservatory Orders to petitioners in the Constitution Petition No. E186 of 2022, temporarily staying the ongoing vetting process, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang’ula has suspended the vetting of nominees for appointment as Principal Secretaries forthwith until further notice,” read the statement from the parliament.
The suspension comes a day after Employment Labour Relations Court Justice Nzioki Makau ordered the National Assembly to stop the exercise until the case filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is heard and determined.
LSK had filed a suit asking the court to halt the process arguing the list of nominees does not meet the constitutional threshold since it lacks gender, regional and ethnic balance.
In a separate case, activist Fredrick Bikeri challenged the list of nominees, saying it lacks inclusivity and regional balance.
“That pending hearing of this application inter partes on November 21, 2022, a conservatory order does and is hereby issued restraining and/or barring the Respondents from receiving or if already received, the list of nominees, barring the processing, vetting, or in any way proceeding or processing the nomination for the appointment and/or appointing the 1st to 51s5 Interested Parties herein as Principal Secretaries as communicated vide a Press Release dated November 2, 2022,” read part of the court order.
The vetting process began on Monday, November 14, 2022.
