MP Kazungu and Senator Keter’s seats declared vacant

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has written to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declaring the Malindi Parliamentary seat vacant following the resignation of area MP Dan Kazungu who was appointed Mining Cabinet Secretary.

Kazungu was among the seven Cabinet Secretaries appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta last Friday after they were approved by Parliament.

The former MP made it to the Cabinet after President Kenyatta nominated him as the CS for Mining effectively replacing Najib Balala who was moved to the Ministry of Tourism in the same capacity.

During the vetting process, Kazungu almost missed the date on the hot seat due to mismanagement allegations of CDF in his constituency.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), however, gave him temporary permission to be vetted awaiting the outcome of the investigations.

The nominees faced a barrage of questions from the Appointment Committee of Parliament on how they plan to tackle the corruption monster that has gotten the opposition on the government’s neck for the longest time.

Meanwhile, Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro has also written to IEBC declaring the Kericho Senate seat vacant after Charles Keter was appointed Energy Cabinet Secretary.

The former Kericho Senator made it to the Cabinet after the Head of State nominated him as the CS for Energy to take over from Davis Chirchir who was suspended eight months ago over corruption allegations.

During the officiating ceremony, President Kenyatta urged the CSs and the PSs to ensure prosperity of all Kenyans.

“We must uproot corruption, we will run a clean government,” said President Kenyatta.

“You will be responsible for what happens in your departments, there is no excuse,” President Kenyatta warned the new appointees.

The Head of State said there will be a retreat of all Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries at the end of January 2016.

In November, President Kenyatta made a major Cabinet reshuffle in what he termed as re-organization of the government to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.