Monica Jumas character questionable, says legislator

Pokot South Member of Parliament David Pkossing has defended the National Assembly over the rejection of Monica Juma’s nomination as Secretary to the Cabinet.

Speaking in Kaibibich area, the MP accused some his colleagues of double standards for not following the matter closely noting that government officials must respect the offices they are meant to serve, listen to the public and recognise that Members of Parliament are the people’s representatives and hence cannot go begging for personal favours.

He warned that the National Assembly will not be used as a rubber stamp to pass government officials whose character is questionable simply because the President has forwarded their names for consideration.

He said that the National Assembly rejected Juma’s nomination as Secretary to the Cabinet on the grounds that she wrote a letter to the clerks of Parliament taking issue with MPs frequenting her office to ask for favours.

Pkossing explained that their recommendation was based on the fact that Juma displayed arrogance and insensitivity to the needs and concerns of the public and their elected leaders.

He further accused her of lacking demonstrable passion to serve the public and their elected leaders.

Pkossing asked the President to transfer Juma to another Ministry.

On Wednesday, Administration and National Security Committee Chairman Asman Kamama said the fate of rejected Secretary to the Cabinet nominee is sealed.

Unfit to hold public office

Kamama said that the committee expects President Uhuru Kenyatta to nominate another person for the position.

“Dr Monica Juma is unfit to hold any office,” said Kamama. “We expect to vet a new person to take over as the Principal Secretary for Interior.”

Dr Juma is currently the Interior Ministry principal secretary.

The Security Committee rejected Juma’s nomination following a letter she wrote to the National Assembly discouraging MPs from visiting her office to ask for favours from the Interior Ministry.

In the October 2014 letter, the PS said MPs regularly visit her office to request for the transfer of some officers or retention of others in some stations.

Juma, while appearing before the committee, had indicated she wrote the letter in good faith.

“There will be a stalemate if the president resubmits her name,” said Kamama.

According to the parliamentary standing orders, the president can only resubmit Dr Juma’s nomination to the house after 6 months.

The President’s legal advisors are exploring various avenues that can be used to ensure her nomination sails through.

Questions have been raised on the integrity of the National Security Committee that vetted Dr Juma and recommended her rejection to the House plenary.

The National Assembly has been accused of blocking her appointment for plugging the holes that were used to siphon billions of shillings through confidential accounts for political mobilisation.